Hello. This is Cameron Cortejano with the Becker's
Dental and DSO review podcast.
I'm thrilled to be joined today by doctor
Ancel Tucker, practice owner and clinical director at
Aspen Dental. Doctor Tucker, thank you so much
for being here today.
Yeah. Thank you for having me. And then
just to start us off, can you just
introduce yourself and and tell us a little
bit about your background?
So once again, my name is Anchelle Tucker.
I am a multipractice
owner here in Virginia.
I was born and raised in Las Vegas,
Nevada,
and I joined Aspen Dental back in 2022
in Auburn, Massachusetts.
I quickly became a clinical director in Worcester,
Massachusetts.
I've I've moved to Arizona with Aspen, and
now I'm here in Virginia, and I am
enjoying every bit of it.
Awesome. Thank you so much for that.
First question today, is just what are some
of the biggest issues,
that you're following in the dental industry so
far in 2025?
I know we're
seems crazy, but coming up on on the
end of the year almost.
I know. The year is flying. I think
a few things that I'm noticing, and I
don't wanna completely call them issues, right,
is just a
very fast
integration of technology.
We're evolving
and advancing
at a rate that
it's it can be difficult for certain practices
to keep up with. I've had a lot
of new patients, like, blown away,
by the technologies that we have in the
office. So I think that's
one of the major things, like, when it
comes to intraoral scanning and the digital dentures
that we do.
And sometimes it seems like we're just out
of space
for them. It's just like, well, what is
this? I've never seen this before, which is
which is really cool. And then I would
say
another thing that we notice quite a bit
in our office is,
you know, as things evolve and technology is
constantly
advancing,
people still want, like, quality of care. They're
they're on the Internet. They're saying all these
things, and they have very high expectations.
So
I think when they come, they really want
a one stop shop. Like,
they they don't wanna be referred out for
things, which is
awesome because we do have an endodontist on-site.
We do have an oral surgeon on-site, but
they're being referred in for those things, and
then they just end up staying because they
don't
want to to be
moved around so much. It's like, oh, I
can come here. I can get my dentures.
I can get my implants. I can see
the oral surgeon. I can see the endodontist.
So
I think that's
just something new that I'm I'm noticing. People
want everything in one place
as well.
Yeah. I think that kinda all in one
shop
kind of dental practice has definitely become a
lot more prominent at least from what I've
been seeing in the past couple of years.
Something that I'm curious to get your thoughts
on or Mhmm. What are some things that
you're most excited about when it comes to
dentistry right now, and what are some things
that are making you maybe a little bit
nervous?
Well, I'm excited about mentorship
always. Like, I think it's so important. I
had people when I first joined the profession
and even still
that really pour into me and make sure
that I understand, you know,
the and I don't wanna call it old
school, but, like, the old school way of
doing things and and
just really making sure that I I'm understanding
the business and understanding
quality patient care. So I think that it's
important that we always
reach back and and guide those coming in
under us.
So I'm very excited about that. I just
hired a new doc, and, like, just sharing
the knowledge that I have with her is
has been a lot of fun and just
seeing her kind of be a sponge and
absorb these things. So I think that's always
exciting, just watching the new classes come in
and and being able to to pass certain
things down.
One thing that I am nervous about,
if I'm being honest, I would say
we're in the age of, like, just
misinformation.
Right? We have the Internet. Everybody has doctor
Google.
We're we we've all seen on Facebook where
there are these magical mouth rinses and, you
know, things of that nature. They're selling stuff
online that the people can glue into their
mouths. So
that's one thing that makes me nervous because
they've made, you know, certain parts of
of dentistry just
accessible by going online, buying certain things, and
it can be a little dangerous for the
patient.
So, you know, as people have more access
to the Internet, I'm definitely seeing a lot
more of that instead of relying more so
on their dental professionals.
Yeah. I think that's really interesting and something
that probably is going to continue,
especially
with AI and just the Internet in general,
just continuing to have more access and information
and all that kind of things. Yeah. Definitely.
I know that Aspen has a pretty in-depth
and expansive mentorship program. What are some of
the things that you've learned,
through being a mentor at Aspen that you've
been able to apply, like, in your practices?
I would say
how to
communicate effectively with patients
and just have more compassion for a situation,
like, really listening and and
giving the patient exactly
what they need. Sometimes we can't give people
what they want, but we're here to give
them what they're what they need and and
pour love and just show them respect and
the respect of listening to them. I think
that was passed down
to me and just seeing my mentor do
that and kinda really sit down with a
patient and just, you know, be an ear,
be a shoulder.
So that's a huge one.
And then
just once again, providing that quality care, like,
learning how to,
you know, enhance my clinical skills, going to
implant training through Aspen, going to surgical trainings
through Aspen,
even, like, clear liners, doing my orthodontic,
training with Motto
through Aspen. So
those people who taught those classes, they've also
been mentors to me,
and now I'm able to pass that information
along and also send my associate to those
trainings.
So, yeah, Aspen has been amazing as far
as
mentorship
on both the clinical side and just the
patient care side.
Got it. Awesome. Yeah. And then just the
last question, that we have for today is,
in your view, what will the most effective
health care leaders need
in order to be successful over the next
two to three years?
I have a couple things. I think
one thing that we kinda touched on earlier
is just
really being an early adopter of the technologies.
You're gonna have to roll with the punches.
You're gonna have to
just constantly go to those CE courses
and and keep improving and moving with the
times in order to better ourselves,
as clinicians and being effective health care leaders.
And I think the second thing I also
touched on is mentorship.
You have to pour into the people coming
behind you,
and and sit back and and watch them
and help guide them, and it and it
really does protect the the profession long term.
So I think we're just really gonna have
to to reach back and continue to reach
back and and educate each other and educate
the people coming behind us.
Awesome. Thank you so much.
And thank you for joining us today, doctor
Tucker, and and sharing your valuable expertise and
insights
into the dental space and dental industry.
Been a pleasure speaking with you today, and
I look forward to connecting with you again
in the future.
Yeah. Of course. Thank you for having me.
I appreciate it.