Founder of SmartChair.AI Explains the Benefits of Tracking Dental Chair Time
As a practicing dentist, Dr. Khamir Patel is all too familiar with the challenges of juggling manual data entry with treatment time and the typical vigors of running a business and managing a team. He’s also passionate about integrating innovative technology into healthcare, making him an ally of the Connected Dentistry® movement. Dr. Patel’s experience and insights ultimately led to the development of SmartChair.AI, a literal stopwatch for dental chairs that makes tracking appointment times a no-brainer. With SmartChair.AI, practices can easily collect highly accurate data, analyze it for patterns, and leverage it to make informed decisions. As you’ll learn in this interview, tracking chair time is about more than simply making dentistry faster and more profitable—it’s about elevating the dental treatment experience for everyone involved. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Patel, Founder of SmartChair.AI to talk about how his innovation is benefiting practice owners across the country. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author and fellow dentist and innovator fascinated by technologies that make dentistry more efficient and accessible. Learn more about Dr. Patel’s solution by visiting SmartChair.AI.
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15:37
Emily Letran, DDS on What it Takes to Become an Entrepreneur in Dentistry
What if everything you’ve heard about entrepreneurship in dentistry is wrong? According to one of the most successful business people in our space, entrepreneurship is something every dentist should aspire to and it is about far more than striving for more money. Emily Letran, DDS is not just a successful clinician—she’s also a seasoned business person who readily shares her wealth of knowledge with others through coaching and consulting. In this episode of The Patient First Podcast, Dr. Letran and I exchange insights from our similar entrepreneurial experiences, and she shares some gems that can help all dentists achieve their professional aspirations. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, dentist and entrepreneur who believes that the next era of dentistry is going to be owned by the clinicians who know what it truly means to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit. Contact Dr. Letran or browse her online courses: DrEmilyLetran.com
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29:33
Ann-Marie DePalma, CDA, RDH, MEd on the Connection Between Technology, Dentistry, and Women’s Health
Few people in oral healthcare have the rich and storied background of Ann-Marie DePalma, CDA, RDH, MEd. Ann-Marie has extensive experience in clinical practice, education, dental software, and volunteering, and her experience lends valuable insight into the interoperability challenges we face in dentistry today. Ann-Marie joined me on The Patient First Podcast to share her story as an oral health speaker and educator, as a clinician, and as a patient herself. In this episode, Ann-Marie and I talk about how dental teams can successfully implement new technology, the need for increased awareness of the connection between oral health and women’s health, and how solutions like Toothapps® are exactly what we need to bridge the gap between medicine and dentistry. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—dentist, author, entrepreneur and innovator of solutions that connect dentistry to overall health. Learn more about what Ann-Marie does and how she can help educate your team: depalmaannmarie(at)gmail(dot)com depalmaannmarie.com Read the book that inspired this podcast: The Patient First Manifesto Read the book that addresses the divide in the dental industry: Dental DisorderÂ
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16:38
The Easiest Way for Dental Professionals to Get Their CPR Certifications
There’s always another aspect of dentistry that can be improved through innovation, and this is perfectly demonstrated by Debora Carrier, RDH of The CPR Sisters. Deb and her sister have developed an innovative and highly personalized CPR training curriculum that helps dental professionals get the maximum benefit from the training without added performance anxiety. In this short and sweet episode of The Patient First Podcast, I interview Deb on-location at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting to learn more about how her team is helping dental teams everywhere experience a higher quality of CPR training. If you like learning at your own pace and learning online or want to offer these training methods to your practice team members, contact The CPR Sisters! Fill out the form to set up training for your team: CPRSistersTraining.com
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6:59
Aimee Vail, RDH, MHA/Ed Explains What You Might Not Know About the Minimally Invasive Dentistry Movement
Just as advances in technology are moving the practice of dentistry forward, so advances in clinical care are making a huge impact in the quality of care patients today receive. And sometimes, more advanced clinical care means going back to deceptively simple basics. The dynamic Aimee Vail, RDH, MHA/Ed and Special Markets Manager for Centrix joined me in the Toothapps® booth at the 2025 Chicago Midwinter Meeting to record this lively interview for The Patient First Podcast. In this episode, we talk about what she has been doing to help make more patients and providers aware of the benefits of minimally invasive dentistry and some modalities that can lower caries risk. I’m Dr. Bryan Laskin—author, entrepreneur and dentist who supports all initiatives that make dentistry easier, faster, more comfortable and more accessible for more people. Connect with Aimee Vail on LinkedIn Explore preventive dental solutions: CentrixDental.comÂ
About The Patient First Podcast with Dr. Bryan Laskin
Quality of care matters. But convenience and comfort are what will bring patients to your office. Learn to thrive as a modern dental practice by embracing technology and putting patients first. Learn with Dr. Bryan Laskin, of The Patient First Podcast, how you can drive unbelievable growth in your practice.
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