1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,980 Hey there, dental professionals and industry enthusiasts. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,000 Picture this. It's October, and you're in the 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,779 middle of one of the most transformative 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,880 experiences of your career. You're at the Becker's 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,359 fall future of dentistry roundtable in the vibrant 6 00:00:13,359 --> 00:00:16,094 city of Chicago, fresh off an incredible 3 7 00:00:16,094 --> 00:00:19,154 days at the Hyatt Regency. Imagine yourself inspired 8 00:00:19,295 --> 00:00:22,974 and invigorated after attending captivating keynote sessions by 9 00:00:22,974 --> 00:00:25,695 none other than the legendary boxing world champion 10 00:00:25,695 --> 00:00:29,454 and CEO, Lila Elite, and the extraordinary professional 11 00:00:29,454 --> 00:00:32,899 basketball player, Caitlin Clark. See yourself engaged in 12 00:00:32,899 --> 00:00:36,260 lively discussions, exchanging ideas, and collecting a stack 13 00:00:36,260 --> 00:00:39,060 of business cards from fellow dental experts and 14 00:00:39,060 --> 00:00:42,200 potential partners. You've networked with over 350 15 00:00:42,579 --> 00:00:45,140 attendees and learned from more than 80 speakers 16 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:47,524 who are at the forefront of dental innovation. 17 00:00:48,385 --> 00:00:51,585 You sat in on educational sessions exploring topics 18 00:00:51,585 --> 00:00:53,984 that elevate dental care as a critical element 19 00:00:53,984 --> 00:00:57,024 of whole person health. You've witnessed firsthand how 20 00:00:57,024 --> 00:00:58,965 digital technology is revolutionizing 21 00:00:59,424 --> 00:01:00,530 patient outcomes 22 00:01:00,909 --> 00:01:04,209 and how both large DSOs and independent practices 23 00:01:04,349 --> 00:01:05,170 are flourishing. 24 00:01:05,469 --> 00:01:07,709 Get ready to transform your career and don't 25 00:01:07,709 --> 00:01:10,609 miss out on this incredible opportunity. The Becker's 26 00:01:10,670 --> 00:01:13,489 fall future of dentistry roundtable is from October 27 00:01:13,745 --> 00:01:16,004 30th to November 1, 2024. 28 00:01:16,465 --> 00:01:18,724 Get registered by going to beckersdental.com 29 00:01:20,145 --> 00:01:21,924 and clicking on the events page. 30 00:01:22,545 --> 00:01:25,025 Hello. This is Arianna Portolaaten with the Becker's 31 00:01:25,025 --> 00:01:26,405 Dental and DSO Review 32 00:01:26,909 --> 00:01:28,430 podcast. I'm thrilled to be joined today by 33 00:01:28,430 --> 00:01:30,430 doctor Marlon Brown of the Gateway Dental and 34 00:01:30,430 --> 00:01:32,590 Implant Center. Doctor Brown, thank you so much 35 00:01:32,590 --> 00:01:33,650 for being here today. 36 00:01:34,189 --> 00:01:36,049 Thanks for having me. Yes. 37 00:01:36,510 --> 00:01:38,189 To start us off with, can you introduce 38 00:01:38,189 --> 00:01:39,629 yourself and tell us a little bit about 39 00:01:39,629 --> 00:01:40,209 your background? 40 00:01:41,484 --> 00:01:43,005 Sure. Sure. As you said, 41 00:01:43,645 --> 00:01:45,665 my name is, Marlon Brown. 42 00:01:46,525 --> 00:01:47,025 And, 43 00:01:48,284 --> 00:01:49,424 I guess a brief 44 00:01:49,725 --> 00:01:52,045 overview would be that I finished dental school 45 00:01:52,045 --> 00:01:54,465 in 1995 from Hickory Medical College 46 00:01:55,689 --> 00:01:56,189 and 47 00:01:56,569 --> 00:01:58,569 moved back to Atlanta, which is where I 48 00:01:58,569 --> 00:02:00,569 went to undergrad at Morehouse College. I grew 49 00:02:00,569 --> 00:02:02,349 up in in Atlanta area, 50 00:02:03,849 --> 00:02:05,930 joined a large group practice for about a 51 00:02:05,930 --> 00:02:06,430 year, 52 00:02:06,890 --> 00:02:09,290 and then I had an opportunity to buy 53 00:02:09,290 --> 00:02:10,349 into a 54 00:02:11,294 --> 00:02:15,055 private practice and bought in and practiced there 55 00:02:15,055 --> 00:02:15,794 for about, 56 00:02:16,415 --> 00:02:17,635 two and a half years. 57 00:02:18,574 --> 00:02:19,074 Then 58 00:02:19,694 --> 00:02:21,555 my wife was having some health complications 59 00:02:22,335 --> 00:02:24,915 while she was pregnant with our son, and 60 00:02:25,460 --> 00:02:27,939 it was suggested by the cardiologist and the 61 00:02:27,939 --> 00:02:28,840 iris OBGYN 62 00:02:29,219 --> 00:02:29,719 that 63 00:02:30,099 --> 00:02:31,639 we move to a dry climate. 64 00:02:32,260 --> 00:02:33,700 At the time, I was looking at some 65 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:36,419 opportunities with US Public Health Service as a 66 00:02:36,419 --> 00:02:37,400 commission officer, 67 00:02:38,254 --> 00:02:40,194 took a visit out to Nevada 68 00:02:41,375 --> 00:02:43,074 and we decided to 69 00:02:43,935 --> 00:02:45,875 move out there and try that out 70 00:02:47,135 --> 00:02:49,555 and we basically moved to 71 00:02:50,655 --> 00:02:53,939 Northern Nevada Lake Tahoe area and I was 72 00:02:54,020 --> 00:02:56,659 commissioned officer with the public health service Indian 73 00:02:56,659 --> 00:02:57,719 health service division, 74 00:02:58,260 --> 00:03:00,020 where I ran the Dell program on a 75 00:03:00,020 --> 00:03:01,639 couple of native American reservations. 76 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:03,479 Did that for 77 00:03:04,260 --> 00:03:05,240 20 years 78 00:03:05,780 --> 00:03:07,319 and retired in 2018. 79 00:03:09,635 --> 00:03:12,534 Moved back to the Atlanta area 80 00:03:12,835 --> 00:03:14,775 where an old business partner 81 00:03:15,635 --> 00:03:18,034 discussed opening a practice, and we built a 82 00:03:18,034 --> 00:03:19,175 practice that's 83 00:03:20,034 --> 00:03:20,534 about 84 00:03:21,189 --> 00:03:24,729 40 miles 45 miles northeast of Atlanta, 85 00:03:25,349 --> 00:03:27,689 20 miles from University of Georgia in Athens. 86 00:03:28,229 --> 00:03:29,750 We built a practice from the ground up 87 00:03:29,750 --> 00:03:30,969 starting in 2019, 88 00:03:32,550 --> 00:03:34,229 and when we were ready to open in 89 00:03:34,229 --> 00:03:35,370 February of 2020, 90 00:03:36,385 --> 00:03:38,885 everything shut down because of the pandemic, so 91 00:03:38,944 --> 00:03:41,105 we did not open until about 7 months 92 00:03:41,105 --> 00:03:42,405 later, that's the end of July. 93 00:03:43,665 --> 00:03:44,485 Okay. Wow. 94 00:03:45,185 --> 00:03:47,425 Awesome. So, thank you for that. And what 95 00:03:47,425 --> 00:03:48,944 are some of the biggest issues that you're 96 00:03:48,944 --> 00:03:51,045 following in the dental industry, currently? 97 00:03:52,599 --> 00:03:54,919 So the biggest issues that I'm following right 98 00:03:54,919 --> 00:03:55,419 now 99 00:03:56,599 --> 00:03:57,099 is 100 00:03:58,599 --> 00:03:59,099 the 101 00:03:59,400 --> 00:03:59,900 staffing 102 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,300 and having competent 103 00:04:02,759 --> 00:04:03,259 staffing 104 00:04:03,879 --> 00:04:04,939 along with technology. 105 00:04:05,504 --> 00:04:07,185 Those are the biggest things that I'm following 106 00:04:07,185 --> 00:04:09,044 right now. The advent of 107 00:04:10,465 --> 00:04:10,965 AI 108 00:04:12,064 --> 00:04:12,965 and the introduction 109 00:04:14,064 --> 00:04:15,284 of digital cameras 110 00:04:15,665 --> 00:04:16,165 and 111 00:04:17,264 --> 00:04:19,185 3 d printing. So those are the things 112 00:04:19,185 --> 00:04:20,725 that I'm looking at right now. 113 00:04:21,370 --> 00:04:23,050 Okay. Yeah. I know you mentioned, 114 00:04:23,689 --> 00:04:25,610 staffing was a a big issue you're following. 115 00:04:25,610 --> 00:04:26,509 How was that 116 00:04:26,810 --> 00:04:28,029 opening up your practice, 117 00:04:28,490 --> 00:04:30,569 in COVID when the staffing shortages were kind 118 00:04:30,569 --> 00:04:31,229 of exacerbated? 119 00:04:32,889 --> 00:04:35,689 Well, originally, when we decided to build the 120 00:04:35,689 --> 00:04:38,694 practice, my intention was to maybe work 2 121 00:04:38,694 --> 00:04:39,194 days, 122 00:04:39,574 --> 00:04:41,035 3 days a week and hire 123 00:04:41,654 --> 00:04:42,475 an associate 124 00:04:42,855 --> 00:04:43,835 and have them 125 00:04:44,375 --> 00:04:46,955 work essentially full time, 5 days a week. 126 00:04:47,895 --> 00:04:48,395 And, 127 00:04:48,855 --> 00:04:50,475 of course, that did not happen. 128 00:04:51,860 --> 00:04:54,980 So started out, I when we opened, it 129 00:04:54,980 --> 00:04:55,720 was myself, 130 00:04:56,899 --> 00:04:57,399 and 131 00:04:57,939 --> 00:05:00,020 my wife helped out at the front because 132 00:05:00,020 --> 00:05:02,040 the person that we hired towards the front 133 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:02,500 had 134 00:05:03,394 --> 00:05:04,675 by the time we were ready to open, 135 00:05:04,675 --> 00:05:06,675 she was expecting, so she was had to 136 00:05:06,675 --> 00:05:08,055 go on maternity leave. 137 00:05:08,435 --> 00:05:10,915 And so was my wife, an assistant. My 138 00:05:10,915 --> 00:05:12,855 wife did the front desk, and 139 00:05:13,394 --> 00:05:14,935 I did everything 140 00:05:15,314 --> 00:05:17,014 from hygiene to 141 00:05:17,714 --> 00:05:18,615 the typical 142 00:05:19,269 --> 00:05:20,889 general dentist procedure. 143 00:05:22,149 --> 00:05:23,469 And that went on for about a year 144 00:05:23,469 --> 00:05:25,209 and a half while we looked for 145 00:05:26,149 --> 00:05:26,729 a hygienist 146 00:05:27,589 --> 00:05:28,969 and as we go to practice. 147 00:05:29,349 --> 00:05:30,649 So it took us about 148 00:05:31,584 --> 00:05:34,464 2 years to get somewhat stable as far 149 00:05:34,464 --> 00:05:36,944 as the hygienist is concerned, so essentially the 150 00:05:36,944 --> 00:05:38,245 latter end of 2022, 151 00:05:39,264 --> 00:05:39,764 and 152 00:05:40,305 --> 00:05:41,985 during that time, of course, there was a 153 00:05:41,985 --> 00:05:42,644 lot of 154 00:05:43,264 --> 00:05:44,245 change with 155 00:05:45,539 --> 00:05:46,039 individuals. 156 00:05:46,419 --> 00:05:48,519 We had individuals who were 157 00:05:49,779 --> 00:05:51,240 previously in the 158 00:05:51,860 --> 00:05:54,899 dental field, whether it be hygienist or dental 159 00:05:54,899 --> 00:05:57,699 assistant or front desk, and they would lay 160 00:05:57,699 --> 00:05:58,680 it off for 161 00:05:59,139 --> 00:06:00,345 other jobs that they had. 162 00:06:00,904 --> 00:06:01,404 And 163 00:06:02,425 --> 00:06:04,125 as things started to settle down 164 00:06:05,305 --> 00:06:07,225 and some people were hired back by the 165 00:06:07,225 --> 00:06:08,444 places where they were, 166 00:06:08,904 --> 00:06:11,884 and some people decided to go home, 167 00:06:12,345 --> 00:06:14,345 whether it was work from home or because 168 00:06:14,345 --> 00:06:16,310 of child care issues, things of that nature, 169 00:06:16,310 --> 00:06:17,529 decided it was better 170 00:06:18,069 --> 00:06:19,050 to stay at home. 171 00:06:19,750 --> 00:06:20,250 Mhmm. 172 00:06:20,949 --> 00:06:23,270 And next question here. What are you most 173 00:06:23,270 --> 00:06:25,189 excited about when it comes to dentistry right 174 00:06:25,189 --> 00:06:25,689 now? 175 00:06:27,235 --> 00:06:27,735 Technology. 176 00:06:28,435 --> 00:06:29,574 So technology 177 00:06:29,955 --> 00:06:30,455 is 178 00:06:30,835 --> 00:06:31,335 making 179 00:06:31,715 --> 00:06:34,455 it where a lot more things can be 180 00:06:34,514 --> 00:06:36,694 done in house with 3 d printing, 181 00:06:37,634 --> 00:06:38,855 intraoral scanners, 182 00:06:40,115 --> 00:06:40,615 CVCT 183 00:06:41,715 --> 00:06:42,215 imaging. 184 00:06:42,829 --> 00:06:44,129 Those are making things 185 00:06:45,310 --> 00:06:46,930 a lot more accessible 186 00:06:47,790 --> 00:06:50,269 in terms of reducing the amount of time 187 00:06:50,269 --> 00:06:50,930 for care 188 00:06:51,629 --> 00:06:54,209 and not having to rely on 189 00:06:54,750 --> 00:06:57,730 labs in a in a certain certain manner. 190 00:06:58,504 --> 00:06:59,644 Mhmm. Yeah. 191 00:07:00,504 --> 00:07:02,345 Is there anything that makes you nervous about 192 00:07:02,345 --> 00:07:03,884 the dental industry right now? 193 00:07:05,384 --> 00:07:08,024 The advent of AI, it has its good 194 00:07:08,024 --> 00:07:09,805 points and bad points as 195 00:07:11,180 --> 00:07:12,000 they've been 196 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:14,800 pretty sure everyone in some form of fashion 197 00:07:14,939 --> 00:07:16,800 was affected last week by the 198 00:07:17,180 --> 00:07:17,680 outage 199 00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:18,639 of the 200 00:07:19,420 --> 00:07:21,520 software system update that 201 00:07:21,899 --> 00:07:24,379 kind of crippled the airline industry and a 202 00:07:24,379 --> 00:07:25,694 number of other 203 00:07:26,154 --> 00:07:27,774 a number of other industries. 204 00:07:28,955 --> 00:07:31,514 So and with the advent of AI, making 205 00:07:31,514 --> 00:07:34,795 sure that there is still control of what 206 00:07:34,795 --> 00:07:36,975 it is that we're doing from a 207 00:07:38,189 --> 00:07:38,689 hands 208 00:07:39,150 --> 00:07:40,689 on or a human touch standpoint. 209 00:07:42,029 --> 00:07:44,590 Right. Are you using AI currently at your 210 00:07:44,590 --> 00:07:45,090 practice? 211 00:07:46,430 --> 00:07:48,129 I'm looking into using it. 212 00:07:48,670 --> 00:07:51,145 Have not implemented it yet, but it is 213 00:07:51,145 --> 00:07:53,305 something that I do I actually do plan 214 00:07:53,305 --> 00:07:54,605 on using a lot. 215 00:07:55,705 --> 00:07:56,925 Okay. Interesting. So, 216 00:07:57,625 --> 00:07:59,725 yep, one one thing that I found 217 00:08:00,905 --> 00:08:01,405 is 218 00:08:01,785 --> 00:08:02,285 that 219 00:08:03,785 --> 00:08:04,285 younger 220 00:08:19,105 --> 00:08:20,564 the internet or 221 00:08:20,865 --> 00:08:23,045 other forms of digital communication 222 00:08:24,145 --> 00:08:27,205 or working around work around with computers, 223 00:08:28,225 --> 00:08:30,324 they have a more difficult time than 224 00:08:30,865 --> 00:08:32,625 someone who's been around for a number of 225 00:08:32,625 --> 00:08:34,740 years where everything is going to charge to 226 00:08:34,740 --> 00:08:35,399 that nature. 227 00:08:36,019 --> 00:08:38,519 So if there is an outage knowing how 228 00:08:39,059 --> 00:08:39,879 to actually 229 00:08:41,299 --> 00:08:43,940 navigate around not having a computer system where 230 00:08:43,940 --> 00:08:45,799 you still use paper to 231 00:08:47,095 --> 00:08:48,934 write down what it is that you're doing 232 00:08:48,934 --> 00:08:49,995 so that once 233 00:08:50,455 --> 00:08:52,215 things get that up and running, you can 234 00:08:52,215 --> 00:08:54,774 transfer that transfer that back into your software 235 00:08:54,774 --> 00:08:56,235 system, into your 236 00:08:57,495 --> 00:08:58,794 electronic help record. 237 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:00,379 Mhmm. Yeah. 238 00:09:01,079 --> 00:09:03,720 And, last question here. What will the most 239 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,039 effective health care leaders need to be successful 240 00:09:06,039 --> 00:09:07,500 in the next 2 to 3 years? 241 00:09:08,839 --> 00:09:10,220 The embracing of technology. 242 00:09:11,079 --> 00:09:12,940 Things are changing so fast 243 00:09:13,544 --> 00:09:17,225 that you're going to have to be up 244 00:09:17,225 --> 00:09:20,205 to date on the new utilization of technology 245 00:09:20,345 --> 00:09:22,605 that's gonna help make practices more efficient 246 00:09:22,985 --> 00:09:25,384 and potentially make it where your staff can 247 00:09:25,384 --> 00:09:26,125 be smaller, 248 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:28,360 where a lot of things on the front 249 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:29,500 end can be done, 250 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:31,340 with 251 00:09:32,279 --> 00:09:35,639 software. Obviously, again, making sure that you're able 252 00:09:35,639 --> 00:09:36,139 to 253 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,000 have a a human touch on that as 254 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:39,500 well. 255 00:09:40,965 --> 00:09:42,725 But, I think that will make things more 256 00:09:42,725 --> 00:09:44,985 efficient from a from a scheduling standpoint, 257 00:09:45,845 --> 00:09:47,465 from management of time, 258 00:09:48,085 --> 00:09:49,865 and being able to 259 00:09:51,524 --> 00:09:54,085 do things more efficiently. One thing that I 260 00:09:54,085 --> 00:09:56,110 have invested in is 261 00:09:56,730 --> 00:09:58,429 a laser, which 262 00:10:00,169 --> 00:10:02,190 is soft tissue and hard tissue lasers. 263 00:10:02,529 --> 00:10:03,029 I 264 00:10:03,370 --> 00:10:04,509 think it is 265 00:10:05,049 --> 00:10:07,230 right to be able to implement that 266 00:10:09,004 --> 00:10:11,644 to have a level of service that we 267 00:10:11,644 --> 00:10:14,605 utilize locations that have a fewer needles or 268 00:10:14,605 --> 00:10:16,284 just an aversion to the sound of the 269 00:10:16,284 --> 00:10:16,784 drill. 270 00:10:17,404 --> 00:10:17,904 And 271 00:10:18,764 --> 00:10:20,304 I think it won't be 272 00:10:21,539 --> 00:10:22,679 a strong 273 00:10:23,860 --> 00:10:24,839 addition to 274 00:10:25,139 --> 00:10:25,879 to a practice. 275 00:10:26,339 --> 00:10:30,200 Granted, the initial outlay is pretty expensive, 276 00:10:31,379 --> 00:10:33,159 but the long term 277 00:10:34,019 --> 00:10:35,240 return on investment, 278 00:10:35,860 --> 00:10:37,684 I think, is it 279 00:10:38,945 --> 00:10:41,264 it it said. Great. Well, thank you so 280 00:10:41,264 --> 00:10:43,345 much for joining us today, doctor Brown. It's 281 00:10:43,345 --> 00:10:44,784 been a pleasure speaking with you, and I 282 00:10:44,784 --> 00:10:46,304 look forward to connecting with you again in 283 00:10:46,304 --> 00:10:46,884 the future. 284 00:10:47,613 --> 00:10:49,933 Absolutely. Thanks so much. Thanks. Have a great 285 00:10:49,933 --> 00:10:50,433 day.