Everyday Oral Surgery

Patient fear and tension are part of everyday clinical care, and the way a clinician responds can shape a patient’s entire experience. In this episode of the Everyday Oral Surgery podcast, host Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes return guest Dr. Richard Akin, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Louisiana, for a thoughtful exploration of how trust is built in healthcare settings. Drawing on insights from behavioral psychology and...

Hiring feels harder than ever. Teams are stretched thin. Turnover is constant. So, what actually works right now? In this follow-up episode of the Everyday Oral Surgery Podcast, Dr. Grant Stucki continues his conversation with returning guest Dr. Roger Levin, founder and CEO of Levin Group. Building on their previous discussion about the office manager as chief operating officer (COO), this episode focuses on how to build the right...

Few surgeons in the world combine the depth of clinical experience and academic rigor that Dr. Waldemar Polido brings. A Professor and practicing Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon in Indianapolis, he began his dentistry education in Brazil and has since built a career at the forefront of complex implant surgery. In this conversation, Dr. Polido shares his three-part implant philosophy, systematic surgical approach, and the evolution of so...

Could a more formal COO-level approach to office management be the catalyst for sustainable growth in your practice? Today on Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Stucki is joined again by Dr. Roger Levin, CEO of Levin Group. Dr. Levin argues that the office manager should adopt the responsibilities of a Chief Operating Officer (COO), moving beyond merely putting out fires to proactively creating systems and checklists that ensure smooth and...

Implant placement is one thing, but making sure those implants survive years of chewing forces is another. In this episode, Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes back Florida general dentist Dr. Vic Martel to dive deep into occlusion from an implant perspective. In today’s conversation, Dr. Martel explains why implant occlusion is often even more critical than occlusion on natural teeth, how uneven load sharing leads to problems like loose scr...

Are you considering selling your oral-maxillofacial surgery (OMS) practice but don’t know where to start? Today on Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Stucki is joined by the founder of Allied OMS, Daniel Hosler, and oral surgeon, Dr. TJ Collins, to discuss what you need to know before selling your practice to a private equity group. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guests’ careers, why private equity groups want to partner with OMS pra...

Even the best clinicians can find themselves in the middle of a malpractice claim, not because they are bad dentists or surgeons, but because their documentation and follow-up were not strong enough to defend the care they provided. In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, host Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes back recurring guest Dr. Vic Martel, a general dentist practicing in Florida, to discuss the two most effective ways to avoid mal...

What does comprehensive treatment planning look like, and how can specialists and general dentists design it together? In this episode, Dr. Grant Stucki sits down with Florida general dentist and educator Dr. Vic Martel to unpack the ins and outs of comprehensive treatment planning. Dr. Martel explains why many dentists were never taught comprehensive planning in dental school, how this leads to a reactive mindset, and why slowing ...

Since the pandemic, the way dentists and specialists learn has shifted dramatically from conferences and study clubs to phones, apps, and other content, but not all digital education is created equal. In this episode, Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes back Denver oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Tom Stone to explore how healthcare education has changed, why today’s clinicians expect “consumer-grade” learning experiences, and how drtalk i...

Can patient care be improved by including nutritional counselling? Dr. Mina Fahmy is an Oral Maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Washington State, and his dual background in medical nutrition and surgery informs his approach to patient care. During this episode, he shares how this combination of expertise shapes his pre-op consultations, and optimizes both clinical outcomes and patient well-being. We talk about protein, hydration a...

What keeps you going when the work is demanding and the days feel relentless? In this solo episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Grant Stucki reflects on why giving often leads to deeper, more lasting fulfillment than receiving. He shares lessons from residency, mentorship, and years in practice, exploring how a mindset of contribution shapes both personal growth and the future of the profession. Dr. Stucki also offers a candid loo...

Better implant outcomes start with how we shape tissue from day one. In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, host Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes return guest Dr. Richard Akin, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from Louisiana, to explore immediate implants and the art of crafting custom healing abutments. Dr. Akin explains how years of refinement shaped his chairside method for building custom healing abutments with bulk-fill composite...

Choosing whether to pursue a fellowship is one of the biggest career decisions a young surgeon can make. In this episode, Dr. Arshad Kaleem breaks down the three key elements that shaped his own path: passion, finances, and quality of life. From his training at the University of Pennsylvania to fellowships in head and neck and microvascular reconstructive surgery, he shares how clear priorities guided his journey to a thriving full...

Starting an oral surgery practice can feel like leaping into the unknown, but with the right plan, success is absolutely achievable. In this episode, Dr. Roger Levin, CEO of Levin Group, joins us again to break down the proven steps that help young surgeons launch and grow profitable, referral-driven practices. Dr. Levin shares pragmatic advice on how to break into competitive markets, build referral networks, and create strong bra...

Dr. Victor Martel, a general dentist practicing in Florida, is back on the Everyday Oral Surgery podcast with Dr. Stucki for another round of expert insight. This time, he’s here to talk about comprehensive treatment planning and how surgeons can work with the GP to provide excellent patient care. Tune in as Dr. Martel defines comprehensive treatment planning and big-picture dentistry, explores how it can grow your practice, and un...

What does comprehensive treatment planning look like, and how can specialists and general dentists design it together? In this episode, Dr. Grant Stucki sits down with Florida general dentist and educator Dr. Vic Martel to unpack the ins and outs of comprehensive treatment planning. Dr. Martel explains why many dentists were never taught comprehensive planning in dental school, how this leads to a reactive mindset, and why slowing ...

Tori removal may not be the most glamorous procedure, but it’s one that demands skill, patience, and careful preparation. In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, host Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes Dr. Richard Akin, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Baton Rouge, to explore the nuances of managing these challenging cases. Dr. Akin reflects on lessons learned from early practice with his father, the unique anatomy and patient factors...

Some days in oral surgery feel like everything conspires against you. Your back hurts, your schedule is overbooked, and (to top it all off) your favorite assistant called in sick! In this solo episode, Dr. Grant Stucki reflects on how to find joy and purpose in those difficult moments while offering practical ways to shift your mindset. Drawing inspiration from Einstein’s theory of relativity, he compares our attitude to gravity, s...

What if the most potent tool for healing isn't a drug or a procedure, but the very words we choose? Today, we unlock the profound and underestimated power of language in patient care. Dr. Grant Stucki is joined once again by Dr. Jake Stucki, an OMS practicing in the Denver area. We look at how to optimize patient disclosure during the pre-operative stage, ensuring both the language and the level of information are appropriate ...