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, shaping the emotional space around us and influencing everyone we work with. Through stories from his own practice, he explores how awareness, intention, and small daily choices can transform frustration into focus. He shares simple strategies like identifying your top stressors and writing down what boosts your energy, and offers book recommendations that inspire greater mental strength and positivity. Tune in to reconnect with the purpose and positivity that keep great surgeons going!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A new series exploring lessons from everyday surgical experiences.
• Announcing Dr. Stucki’s upcoming course on PRF and Exparel in Denver.
• Today’s topic: How to find joy in surgery and maintain a positive attitude on tough days.
• Einstein’s theory of relativity as a metaphor for mindset and influence.
• How our mental “gravity” affects the people and energy around us.
• A story about Dr. Stucki’s brother and his contagious enthusiasm for surgery.
• Reflections on how surgeons can become jaded and cynical over time.
• The impact of negativity on staff, patients, and surgical outcomes.
• Being intentional about the energy and attitude brought into the workplace.
• Strategies for maintaining positive energy, including building awareness of triggers.
• Book Recommendations: On Fire, The Alter Ego Effect, and Can't Hurt Me.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Enhancing Surgical Outcomes with Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Exparel in Oral Surgery Course — https://www.collectiveeducationsociety.com/products/courses/prf-and-exparel

Collective Education Society — https://www.collectiveeducationsociety.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery blog — https://everydayoralsurgery.com/blog/

On Fire — https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Choices-Ignite-Radically-Inspired/dp/1501117726

The Alter Ego Effect — https://alteregoeffect.com/

Can't Hurt Me — https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Hurt-Me-Master-Your/dp/1544512287

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

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 and clear. We emphasize the benefits of shifting from simple "yes or no" questions to more open-ended inquiries to improve patient communication, and discuss the critical importance of being mindful of how we frame and communicate recovery times. The conversation also covers intra- and post-operative language, focusing on the power of positive seed-planting and careful word choice. We explore how simple communication between practitioners can significantly limit unnecessary issues, and finally, we delve into the "Second Victim" ideology, explaining why the language we use with ourselves and our team is essential for well-being. Tune in for a patient-care-focused conversation on how the words we use can ultimately impact the physical healing trajectory of our patients.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Dr. G. Stucki introduces today’s topic of conversation: the power of the language we use.
• Do the words we use have an impact on our patients’ ability to heal?
• Pre-operative language: How can we optimize patient disclosure regarding surgical complications while ensuring the language is appropriate and clear?
• Changing our yes or no questions to more open-ended questions.
• How we approach framing and communicating recovery times.
• Intra-and post-operative language: planting positive seeds consistently and watching our word choice.
• Dr. G. Stucki shares a quick story about choosing post-operative language wisely.
• How simple communication between practitioners can limit unnecessary issues.
• Where surgeons fall short in our patient-care communication: empathy.
• Second victim: why the language we use both with ourselves and our team is also important.
• We highlight the practical takeaways from today’s content.

Studies Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

1. General Physician–Patient Communication and Outcomes

‘Effective physician-patient communication and health outcomes: a review.’ — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1337906/

‘The impact of doctor-patient communication on patient satisfaction in outpatient settings: implications for medical training and practice’ — https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-025-07433-y

2. Pre- and Postoperative Communication in Surgery

‘The Importance of Communication in the Management of Postoperative Pain’ — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3689499/

‘Quality communication can improve patient-centred health outcomes among older patients: a rapid review’ — https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-023-09869-8

3. Surgical Team Communication & Safety

‘Investigating the relationship between surgical team communication and patient outcomes’ —https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384727941_INVESTIGATING_THE_RELATIONSHIP_BETWEEN_SURGICAL_TEAM_COMMUNICATION_AND_PATIENT_OUTCOMES&n

Joining Dr. Stucki again on the podcast today is Dr. Tom Stone, an OMS Surgeon practicing out of Denver, Colorado. Today, they dive into Dr. Stone’s philosophy on handling immediate implants, starting with the key role digital workflow plays in streamlining appointments and how to implement these systems without overwhelming office teams. They unpack how Dr. Stone and his team approach the complexity of emergency implants and simplify decision-making for patients. The conversation covers how Dr. Stone navigates mid-surgery changes in plan, the difference between emergency and immediate implants, and why the ability to perform an immediate implant truly sets a practitioner apart. Finally, they discuss maintaining quality control, share tips for successful outcomes in multi-rooted tooth areas, and reveal how feedback has been essential to the success of their emergency implant offerings. For all this, and more, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction and recap of our guest, Dr. Tom Stone.
• Dr. Stone discusses offering an extraction and immediate implant in one appointment.
• The role digital workflow plays in his system of immediate implants and what they’re using currently.
• Tips on how to streamline workflow for office teams without causing overwhelm.
• The complex part of an emergency implant and how to streamline decision-making for patients.
• How Dr. Stone navigates a mid-surgery change in plan (giving patients a plan A and plan B as options).
• The difference between an emergency implant and an immediate implant.
• How the ability to do an immediate implant sets you apart from other practitioners.
• Maintaining quality control with immediate implants.
• Dr. Stone shares tips on achieving implant success in multi-rooted tooth areas.
• How feedback has helped create an incredible patient experience with emergency implant offerings.
• Final thoughts on the essential components for success in surgery.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Tom Stone on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-l-stone-md-dds-facs-9b387718/

DrTalk — https://www.drtalk.com/

DrTalk App (Google) —https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drtalk.drtalkdroid&hl

DrTalk App (Apple) — https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/drtalk-connect-share-learn/id1449673761?l

Collective Health Society — https://www.collectivehealthsociety.com/

Dr. Katie Lee on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieleedds/

DrTalk: A Practice Growth Business Tool (with Drs. Tom Stone and Vic Martel)

— https://www.buzzsprout.com/1404670/episodes/17222537

‘M641: The Emergency Implant: A Practice Growth Strategy’ — https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(07)00802-6/fulltext

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email —

The more we give, the happier we will be! In this episode of Every Day Oral Surgery, we are thrilled to welcome periodontist and the CEO and founder of Liberate, Dr. Robert Ferrell, to discuss why he feels the greatest crisis the world faces is the absence of connection. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about his career, the break he took to go on a mission for his church, the pros and cons of taking such a large break, the mental health struggles of oral surgeons, and so much more! We delve into why Dr. Ferrell believes the greatest crisis we face is a lack of connection before talking about how we can mitigate it. He even discusses how he empowers his team to be of service to people. Finally, Dr. Ferrell answers our rapid-fire questions. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing today’s guest, Dr. Robert Ferrell.
• A brief overview of Dr. Ferrell’s career and the three-year break he took.
• The pros and cons of taking a break from practicing dentistry.
• A reminder of the mental health struggles oral surgeons often face.
• Dr. Ferrel shares some tips for managing stress and crises.
• How we can create better connections and be less transactional.
• Methods our guest uses to empower his team to be of service to the community.
• Why giving back actually makes you a happier person.
• Skill versus connection and how the latter makes you a healer.
• Dr. Ferrell ends off by answering our rapid-fire questions.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Robert Ferrell on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ferrell-4393a1102/

Dr. Robert Ferrell Email Address — robert@rwferrell.com

Build then Bless — https://buildthenbless.com/

Giftology — https://www.amazon.com/Giftology-Increase-Referrals-Strengthen-Retention/dp/1619614332

Give and Take — https://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986

Leaders Eat Last — https://www.amazon.com/Leaders-Eat-Last-Together-Others/dp/1591845327

The Obstacle is the Way — https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

There is great power in becoming a leader as an oral surgeon at your medical center. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Dr. Liddell’s career and what his leadership role in his medical center looks like, the political side of healthcare, admin for leaders of medical centers, and more! We delve into how his exposure to leadership has changed the way he practices medicine before discussing the plethora of issues he sees in cases that have gone wrong. Dr. Liddell even shares some nuggets of wisdom he’s learned during conflict resolution and how you can get started in this area of the industry. Finally, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions and reminds us of the importance of getting a seat at the table. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming Dr. Aaron Liddell back to the show.
• Dr. Liddell tells us about his leadership role and how he got there.
• The political side of healthcare and why making connections is helpful.
• What admin looks like for leaders at medical centers.
• How his leadership position has changed the way he practices.
• What issues Dr. Liddell sees when reviewing a case that went badly.
• Some communication tips he has learned about conflict resolution.
• Dr. Liddel shares advice for anyone who wants to get started in this area.
• As always, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions to end off.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Aaron Liddell on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronliddell/

Dr. Aaron Liddell on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/aaronliddellmd/

Outlive — https://www.amazon.co.za/Outlive-Science-Longevity-Peter-Attia/dp/1785044559

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Oral surgeons spend a lot of time focusing on getting referrals, only to lose approximately 50% of them to their competitors when they do not track them properly. Today on Everyay Oral Surgery, we welcome Dr. Tom Stone back to the show to discuss how to streamline referrals. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the incredible Dr. Tock referral tracking software, how it makes streamlining referrals more efficient, the AI software it uses, and how easy the onboarding process is. We delve into measurable improvement practices see when joining Dr. Tock, before discussing the power of leveraging technology within your medical practice. You’ll even find out where you can learn more about this incredible software so be sure to press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming today’s guest, Dr. Tom Stone.
• Why tracking referrals is so difficult within a practice.
• How Dr. Tock makes referral streamlining easy.
• Dr. Tock’s intelligent AI software and how it tracks referrals.
• What onboarding to the software looks like for a specialist.
• The growth a practice can expect when using Dr. Tock.
• Benefits of leveraging technology to make a practice run smoothly.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Tom Stone on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-l-stone-md-dds-facs-9b387718/

Dr. Tom Stone Email — tstone5400@gmail.com

Dr. Tock — https://www.drtalk.com

Dr. Roger Levin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-levin-69ab744/

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

What turns a good referral relationship into a lifelong partnership? In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Grant Stucki welcomes back Dr. Vic Martel to dive deep into the art of building loyalty with referring doctors. They explore why simply doing great clinical work is not enough and how personal touches, like remembering birthdays, anniversaries, kids’ graduations, or even a favorite sports team, can set your practice apart. Dr. Martel shares how tracking these details, personalizing gifts, and even attending the same courses as your referrals can build trust and strengthen loyalty. He also explains why a dedicated referral relationship manager can transform your ability to gather meaningful information, customize communication, and consistently show appreciation. You will leave this conversation inspired and equipped to create relationships so strong that your practice becomes the natural first choice!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming back Dr. Vic Martel to discuss strengthening referral relationships.
• Dr. Martel’s insights on why great clinical work alone is not enough to stand out.
• Why you shouldn’t just reach out during major holidays, like Christmas and Easter.
• The importance of personal touches: birthdays, anniversaries, kids’ milestones.
• An example of how a car salesman’s birthday cards inspired years of loyalty.
• Why a referral relationship manager is key for gathering and acting on details.
• Attending the same courses as your referring doctors to show support and build trust.
• Tips for tracking and customizing gifts to create emotional connection and loyalty.
• How one doctor built a booming implant practice by sending flowers on behalf of referrals.
• Gathering referral info through lunches, surveys, and friendly welcome emails.
• The power of consistency: small gestures that keep you top of mind all year.
• Turning referrals into loyal, lifelong partnerships.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Vic Martel on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-martel-dmd-91431922/

Dr. Vic Martel on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/drvicmartel/

Dr. Vic Martel Email — martelvic@gmail.com

Martel Academy — https://www.martelacademy.com/
Giftology — https://www.amazon.com/Giftology-Increase-Referrals-Strengthen-Retention/dp/1619614332
Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

There are major parallels between oral health and overall health, and it is our responsibility, as oral surgeons, to educate our patients about these connections. Today, on Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Imran Ahson is joining the conversation. Dr. Ahson’s goal, when speaking publicly, is always to connect oral health with systemic health, and today, he is here to do just that! Tuning in, you’ll hear about our guest’s career, why today’s topic of discussion is important, how he helps his patients understand the link between oral health and overall health, and so much more! We delve into oral health in pregnancy and early life before discussing how we have devolved in terms of our oral health as a society. We even touch on the correlation between oral health and cancer and the importance of decreasing inflammation in the body as a whole. Finally, as always, we close with some rapid-fire questions for Dr. Ahson. Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Dr. Imran Ahson to the show today.
• A brief history of his training and current practice setup.
• Why we need to discuss the connection between oral health and overall health.
• How he helps patients understand the link between oral health and heart disease.
• The neurocognitive issues Dr. Ahson wants oral surgeons to know about.
• How diet affects your oral health and, in turn, your overall health.
• The negative effects on longevity when oral health is neglected.
• Oral health in pregnancy and early years of a child’s life.
• Dr. Ahson discusses the devolution of oral health in society.
• The connections between oral health and cancer.
• Dr. Ahson answers our rapid-fire questions to close off.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Imran Ahson on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-ahson-md-dmd-ab227ab3/

Dr. Imran Ahson Personal Email Address — imranahson@gmail.com

Dr. Imran Ahson Work Email Address — Imran.ahson@tufts.edu

‘Number of Teeth is Associated with All-Cause and Disease-Specific Mortality’ — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34749715/

‘The Association Between Maternal Oral Health Experiences and Risk of Preterm Birth in 10 States, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2004-2006’ — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4561173/

Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic — https://www.amazon.co.za/Jaws-Epidemic-Sandra-Kahn-Dr/dp/1503604136

Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America — https://www.amazon.com/Teeth-Beauty-Inequality-Struggle-America/dp/1620971445

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059