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The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

By: ACT Dental
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Welcome to The Best Practices Show, hosted by Kirk Behrendt, founder of ACT Dental (https://www.actdental.com/) and a leader in dental practice coaching. This podcast is your gateway to discovering the hidden gems and tactics used by the most successful dental practices worldwide. At ACT Dental, we have meticulously curated strategies that have consistently proven effective in elevating dental practices. Our podcast, The Best Practices Show, extends our commitment to sharing this wealth of knowledge. Each episode features interviews with renowned dental professionals and industry leaders who have made significant strides in their practices. They share their experiences, insights, and the challenges they've overcome, offering a unique perspective that you won't find anywhere else. Why should you listen to The Best Practices Show? Whether you're a seasoned dentist, a new practice owner, or somewhere in between, this podcast is tailored to inspire and educate. Our goal is not just to provide you with information but to transform the way you think about and run your dental practice. We delve into topics ranging from advanced clinical techniques and practice management to leadership skills and personal growth. Kirk Behrendt, a respected figure in the dental community, brings his vast experience and infectious enthusiasm to each episode, making complex topics both understandable and engaging. As the CEO of ACT Dental, Kirk has helped countless dental practices thrive by focusing on holistic development - professionally, personally, and within their community. Our commitment to authenticity and practical advice sets The Best Practices Show apart. We don't just talk about theories; we dive into real-life applications you can implement immediately in your practice. Our community-centric approach means we're always listening to our audience and constantly evolving our content to meet your needs. In addition to the invaluable insights from our guests, we also provide access to exclusive resources available through ACT Dental. These resources complement the podcast topics and give you a more comprehensive understanding and practical tools to apply in your practice. By subscribing to The Best Practices Show, you're not just gaining access to a podcast; you're joining a community of like-minded professionals committed to excellence in dentistry. So, are you ready to transform your practice and be the best version of yourself? Join us on this journey, and let's grow together. Hit subscribe and never miss an episode of The Best Practices Show – where we uncover the secrets to the success of the world's best dental practices, one episode at a time. Subscribe to The Best Practices Show on Apple Podcasts Join our community and start your journey towards a more innovative, more successful dental practice today!Copyright 2017-2025. All rights reserved. Economics
Episodes
  • 1054: Metric Mondays: Tracking Everything Is the Fastest Way to Improve Nothing - Miranda Beeson

    1054: Metric Mondays: Tracking Everything Is the Fastest Way to Improve Nothing - Miranda Beeson
    Jun 1 2026

    Tracking every KPI can feel productive, but it often creates noise and diffuses accountability. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with Miranda Beeson, ACT’s co-host and practice coach, to explain why “tracking everything is the fastest way to improve nothing.”

    You’ll learn how to narrow your focus to a small set of metrics that match your top quarterly priority, how to separate leadership-level monitoring from team-level focus, and what to do when a metric is off-track so it actually improves. Listen to Episode 1054 of The Best Practices Show!

    Main Takeaways

    • Track data because feelings are not reliable indicators of what is happening in the practice.
    • Too many KPIs create overwhelm, dilute accountability, and make it harder to prioritize action.
    • Choose three to seven “main” KPIs each quarter that directly correlate to the practice’s current priority.
    • Leadership can monitor a broader scorecard, but the team should stay focused on the quarter’s priority metrics.
    • Practices that track everything often bounce between problems week to week without making measurable progress.
    • When a focus metric is off-track, the team must issue-discuss-solve instead of only reporting the number.
    • Assign clear ownership for collecting and reporting each KPI so the numbers stay visible and actionable.

    Snippets:

    00:00 Metric Mondays Kickoff

    01:22 Meet Miranda Beeson

    02:00 Why Tracking Everything Fails

    03:20 Pick Few KPIs for Traction

    05:51 Data Rich Direction Poor

    07:52 What It Looks Like Done Right

    08:42 Choose Focus Metrics This Quarter

    10:47 Action Steps and Accountability

    13:17 Solve Off Track Metrics

    14:43 Wrap Up and Get Help

    Guest Bio/Guest Resources:

    Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

    Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University, and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

    More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

    The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/

    Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa

    Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/

    Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com

    Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
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    16 mins
  • 1053: Cash Flow Confusion: How to Understand the Money Side of Dentistry - Robyn Theisen

    1053: Cash Flow Confusion: How to Understand the Money Side of Dentistry - Robyn Theisen
    May 29 2026
    Cash flow confusion can make a busy, high-producing practice feel like it has no money left at the end of the month. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt explains why production and a “profitable” P&L don’t always translate into cash in the bank, and he brings in coach Robyn Theisen to break down the cash flow gap. You’ll learn the difference between net profit and actual cash available, the three common places cash disappears, and which financial statements you need to see the full story and build a plan for taxes, debt, and owner compensation. Listen to Episode 1053 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Net profit on the P&L is not the same as cash in the bank.The cash flow gap is the difference between what your P&L shows and the cash actually available.Cash commonly disappears in three places that don’t show clearly on the P&L: taxes, debt payments, and owner draws/distributions.Interest expense may appear on the P&L even when the actual loan payments and balances aren’t being tracked.To understand where the money went, you need to review the P&L, cash flow statement, and balance sheet together.Predictable owner compensation, tax reserves, and a debt strategy reduce reactive decisions and stabilize cash flow.Ongoing monthly accountability and review are necessary to keep cash flow clean, especially in multi-owner practices.Snippets:00:00 Net profit versus cash in the bank.06:00 What the cash flow gap is and where it usually shows up.07:00 Why paying down debt doesn’t appear on the P&L.10:00 The three strategies: tax reserves, debt strategy, and owner compensation.11:00 The three financial statements needed to understand cash movement and what’s owed.15:00 Why multi-owner practices add complexity and require consistent monthly review.17:00 The cash flow statement tells the full story, not the P&L.18:00 BPA tools mentioned: reading the three statements, Financial Gaps at a Glance, and the calculator.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Robyn Theisen brings an entire life and legacy of dental experience to the team and every team with which she works as the daughter and sister of dentists. With almost 20 years of experience in dentistry, her roles ranged from practice management to operations at Patterson Dental to coaching teams. Robyn’s passion is empowering teams to realize that they can dramatically impact the lives of the people they serve by implementing skills and systems to remove barriers to life-changing dental treatment. She has done it for decades and does it every day with dental teams.Outside of coaching, she enjoys time with her husband, Rob, and two daughters, Emerson and Ruby. She loves traveling, music, fitness, and cheering on the Michigan State Spartans.Resources Mentioned:Financial Gaps at a Glance: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-at-a-glanceFinancial Gaps Calculator: https://www.actdental.com/gaps-calculatorMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • 1052: 5 Myths Dentists Still Believe - Dr. Tom Hedge

    1052: 5 Myths Dentists Still Believe - Dr. Tom Hedge
    May 27 2026
    Dentists often keep operating beliefs long after the market, technology, and patient expectations have changed. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with recurring guest Dr. Tom Hedge, practicing dentist and educator, to unpack myths dentists still believe — from selling to DSOs and misunderstanding recap/valuation, to overestimating the cost and complexity of modern technology, imaging, magnification, and hygiene staffing. You’ll learn how to rethink “rules of thumb,” evaluate DSO offers more clearly, adopt practical tech that improves diagnosis and case acceptance, and use education and community to stay adaptable. Listen to Episode 1052 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Dentists often assume what worked ten years ago will keep working, even when costs, fees, and alternatives have changed.DSO deals can break down when recapitalization happens and cheap money is no longer cheap, shrinking what DSOs can “skim” between dentist pay and profitability.A “second bite of the apple” payout is not guaranteed, and dentists can lose value if the DSO is not financially strong when the holdback comes due.Technology prices and workflows have changed dramatically, and many tools (cameras, scanners, digital X-rays) now deliver faster diagnosis and better patient understanding.Patient imaging can be created quickly using AI tools, which can help patients visualize outcomes and move forward without high-pressure selling.Magnification and hands-free lighting can simplify clinical work, reduce operatory clutter, and improve the patient experience compared to traditional overhead lights.Investing in continuing education moves dentists from “not knowing what you don’t know” to confident clinical decision-making, but learning never stops.Snippets:00:00 Welcome And Setup02:04 Why Myths Persist02:38 Rethinking Fees03:42 DSO Big Check Myth05:31 Recap And EBITDA08:19 Independent Dentistry Future09:39 Tech Costs Myth12:59 Hands Free Operatory Tech13:50 AI Smile Imaging Fast15:58 Magnification Lighting Simplified17:33 Hygiene Crisis Reframed19:27 Education And Community20:35 SmileSource Exchange Invite22:09 Final Takeaways GoodbyeGuest Bio/Guest Resources:Dr. Tom Hedge is widely known as one of the top-notch cosmetic dentists in the United States. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he majored in biology and chemistry. While studying at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, he conducted research resulting in the publication of seven abstracts and one paper, which received numerous awards at the state and national levels. After graduating from dental school, he completed a general practice residency at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. This advanced education included training in anesthesia, pediatrics, emergency medicine, geriatrics, TMJ treatment, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, prosthetics, and implantology.Dr. Hedge is nationally recognized not only for excellence in clinical programs, but for sound business practices that make full use of the newest technologies in dentistry. He is an alumnus of the renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, as well as the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Dr. Hedge is a frequent contributor to dental publications, as well as professional development magazines.Resources mentioned in the episode:Smile Source Exchange: https://smilesource.com/exchangeMore Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
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