In this inspiring episode of the Marketing32 show, host Brett Allen sits down with Joanne Miles, the "Swiss Army Knife of Dentistry" and lead investment grade practice business advisor with Productive Dentist Academy. Joanne's remarkable journey from dental assistant to regional DSO manager to industry leader showcases the limitless potential within dental careers. With decades of nationwide experience, she now helps practices achieve operational excellence through her innovative Clinical Calibration Institute - the first online platform designed to unite entire dental teams under one comprehensive clinical philosophy. From overcoming early career challenges to developing cutting-edge training solutions, Joanne shares invaluable insights on leadership, team development, and creating investment-grade practices.

In this episode...

Joanne Miles delivers a masterclass in dental practice transformation through her unique perspective as someone who has literally worked every role in the dental office. Her journey began in 1986 as a dental assistant during a time when gloves weren't even standard practice, but was quickly accelerated when she was thrust into management after an embezzlement crisis. This baptism by fire taught her the critical importance of systems, leadership, and comprehensive business understanding - lessons that would shape her entire career trajectory.

The centerpiece of this episode is Joanne's introduction of the Clinical Calibration Institute, a revolutionary online learning platform that addresses one of dentistry's most persistent challenges: getting entire teams aligned with the doctor's clinical philosophy and standards of care. Unlike traditional continuing education that focuses primarily on clinical training for dentists, CCI brings together hygienists, assistants, admin staff, and doctors in a cohesive learning environment. The platform features on-demand modules covering everything from comprehensive diagnostics and risk factor conversations to scheduling optimization and financial solutions, all designed to break down the silos that typically exist within dental practices.

What makes Joanne's approach particularly powerful is her understanding that successful practices require more than just clinical excellence - they need investment-grade business systems and strong leadership development. Her work focuses on helping practice owners recognize that leadership begins with self-leadership, and that creating a clear cultural north star is essential for team alignment and sustainable growth. Through monthly virtual masterminds, global peer learning opportunities, and practical implementation tools, the Clinical Calibration Institute represents a new paradigm in dental team development that prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and real-world application over traditional conference-based learning models.

In this power-packed episode of the Marketing32 show, host Brett Allen sits down with Dr. Steven Katz, a practice growth coach with over 35 years of dental practice ownership experience. Dr. Katz, founder of Dental Excellence Advisory, has coached over 160 practices to more than $300 million in revenue growth through his unique approach to diagnosis standardization and treatment acceptance. From his inspiring personal transformation as a competitive rower at age 65+ to his revolutionary "protective diagnosis" philosophy, Dr. Katz shares game-changing strategies that can transform any dental practice overnight.

In this episode...

Dr. Steven Katz delivers a masterclass in practice transformation through his revolutionary approach to dental diagnosis and treatment acceptance. His journey from a successful practice owner to a sought-after coach began with a simple realization at a speaking engagement - he could impact millions of patients by teaching other dentists his proven systems.

The episode's core focuses on Dr. Katz's "protective diagnosis" philosophy, which addresses the common problem of overly conservative treatment planning. He explains how many practices leave significant revenue on the table by being afraid to present comprehensive treatment plans, often leading to the dreaded "bait and switch" scenario where patients feel misled when treatments become more extensive than initially presented. His solution involves standardizing diagnosis criteria across the entire team and planning comprehensively from the start, allowing doctors to become heroes when they can deliver less treatment than planned rather than villains when they need to add more.

Perhaps the most compelling case study shared involves a practice that transformed their approach to diagnosis standardization, resulting in an additional 4-6 crowns per day - translating to over $1 million in additional annual revenue. Dr. Katz emphasizes that this growth comes not from being more aggressive, but from being more consistent and comprehensive in diagnosis, ultimately serving patients better while building stronger practice economics. His approach focuses on raising the standard of care rather than chasing numbers, with the philosophy that when you deliver exceptional value and experiences, growth happens organically.

Deanna Otts-Whitfield is a Marine Corps veteran and dental professional with over 16 years of experience in hygiene, infection prevention, and compliance. She holds a bachelor's in dental hygiene, a master's in healthcare quality and safety, and is CDIPC certified. After serving one tour in Iraq as a heavy truck driver, Deanna transitioned to civilian life and discovered dental hygiene by literally going down a university program list. Her military background as a rule follower who appreciates black-and-white procedures naturally aligned with infection control compliance work. In 2019, feeling bored with clinical practice and seeking something bigger, she pursued her master's degree which opened doors to the consulting world. Now as owner of Copper Penny Consulting, Deanna empowers dental teams with practical strategies to enhance safety and compliance, serving on professional boards and passionately elevating patient care standards across the industry through virtual assessments, comprehensive training, and ongoing support.

In this episode....

Concerned about potential compliance violations hiding in plain sight at your practice, but not sure where to start or what you might be missing? Many dental practices operate under the dangerous assumption that following basic protocols learned in school is sufficient, while unknowingly exposing patients and staff to serious health risks through contaminated waterlines, improper sterilization procedures, and cross-contamination from everyday habits like keeping drinks in sterilization areas. What if the difference between a safe practice and a potential OSHA violation is simply not knowing what you don't know?

According to Deanna Otts-Whitfield, a Marine Corps veteran turned compliance consultant with 16 years of dental experience, most practices have good intentions but lack awareness of current safety standards that extend far beyond basic infection control. Her shocking revelations include dentists still practicing without gloves in rural communities, biofilm-contaminated water systems delivering microorganisms directly into patients' bloodstreams during procedures, and staff unknowingly creating cross-contamination by placing personal items near ultrasonic cleaners that aerosolize dangerous pathogens. Her military-trained eye for detail reveals that compliance isn't just about avoiding fines—it's about the ethical responsibility healthcare providers have to model safety behaviors and create protocols that protect everyone in the practice.

In this episode of The Marketing32 Show, host Brett Allen interviews Deanna Otts-Whitfield about the critical but often overlooked world of dental compliance and safety. They explore her unique journey from Marine Corps truck driver to dental compliance expert, discuss shocking real-world examples of practices unknowingly putting patients at risk, and dive into her comprehensive virtual assessment process that uncovers violations from sterilization areas to electrical panels. The conversation reveals how seemingly innocent habits like keeping drinks near ultrasonic cleaners can create serious health hazards, while providing practical insights into OSHA's expanding scope and the growing trend of whistleblower complaints that triggered over $100,000 in fines across dental offices in 2023.