Friday Morning Education Powered by Industry Leaders
Laura Nelson is a pioneering voice in dental education and AI innovation, serving as VP of AI, Training, and Development at Mango Voice. With over two decades of experience transforming front office operations, she’s helped thousands of practices improve efficiency, communication, and team performance.
As the founder of Front Office Rocks and co-founder of Sober Life Rocks, Laura blends deep industry expertise with a mission to elevate both workplace culture and professional standards. She’s the author of four books, including Brush Up on AI, which equips dental teams with practical strategies to confidently integrate artificial intelligence into daily operations.
Known for her relatable style and real-world takeaways, Laura is a sought-after speaker and trainer at industry events nationwide. Whether leading innovation at Mango or advocating for change from the podium, her focus remains the same: helping dental teams succeed through smart systems, empowered people, and a whole lot of heart.
Compliance Jeopardy: A Fun, Interactive Challenge to Master HIPAA & OSHA Essentials
Speaker: Laura Nelson
Ready to test your compliance knowledge in the most entertaining way possible? Join Laura Nelson, VP of AI at Mango Voice and Front Office Rocks founder, as she hosts Compliance Jeopardy—an engaging, game-show style session brought to you by Rectangle Health.
This isn’t your typical compliance training. Laura brings her unique blend of front office expertise, customer service excellence, and cutting-edge AI leadership to transform complex HIPAA and OSHA requirements into an interactive learning experience that’s as fun as it is valuable.
Navigating the complexities of HIPAA and OSHA compliance is a huge undertaking for any dental practice, and compliance gaps can be costly. This session delivers compliance education the way it should be—engaging, memorable, and actionable. Whether you’re looking to safeguard your reputation, earn the trust of your patients, or operate with confidence knowing you’re meeting all regulatory requirements, Compliance Jeopardy gives you the tools to succeed. Because compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming or boring!
Compliance Jeopardy: A Fun, Interactive Challenge to Master HIPAA & OSHA Essentials
Presenter: Laura Nelson
Course Description:
Ready to test your compliance knowledge in the most entertaining way possible? Join Laura Nelson, VP of AI at Mango Voice and Front Office Rocks founder, as she hosts Compliance Jeopardy—an engaging, game-show style session brought to you by Rectangle Health.
This isn’t your typical compliance training. Laura brings her unique blend of front office expertise, customer service excellence, and cutting-edge AI leadership to transform complex HIPAA and OSHA requirements into an interactive learning experience that’s as fun as it is valuable.
What Makes This Session Different:
Navigating the complexities of HIPAA and OSHA compliance is a huge undertaking for any dental practice, and compliance gaps can be costly. This session delivers compliance education the way it should be—engaging, memorable, and actionable. Whether you’re looking to safeguard your reputation, earn the trust of your patients, or operate with confidence knowing you’re meeting all regulatory requirements, Compliance Jeopardy gives you the tools to succeed. Because compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming or boring! Need to learn something new? Want to feel a bit competitive? Looking for practical solutions you can implement right away? This session delivers all three—wrapped in an entertaining format you won’t forget.
Course Learning Objectives:
You’ll Discover How To:
- Protect patient data and your practice reputation with advanced HIPAA security measures
- Create safer work environments that attract and retain top talent through OSHA compliance
- Identify compliance vulnerabilities before they become costly fines or reputational damage
- Streamline compliance procedures so you can focus on delivering quality patient care
- Stay prepared for OCR and OSHA inspections with confidence
What to Expect:
This interactive Jeopardy-style competition brings compliance to life through:
- Real-world scenarios that challenge your knowledge
- Team-based learning that encourages collaboration
- Expert insights from both Laura and Rectangle Health compliance specialists
- Friendly competition that makes learning stick
- Practical takeaways you can implement immediately
Perfect For:
- Practice managers seeking to strengthen their compliance programs
- Front office teams responsible for HIPAA protocols
- Anyone who wants to learn while having fun
- Competitive spirits who love a good challenge
- Practical takeaways you can implement immediately
- Leaders looking to build a culture of compliance excellence
Brought to you by Rectangle Health
Director of Learning and Enablement
Adrian Valente is the Director of Training & Enablement at Sunbit and an educator with two decades of experience in learning design and communication. He develops CE programs, webinars, and training tools that simplify financial conversations for busy dental teams.
Adrian is a familiar voice at conferences, on podcasts, and across online learning platforms. His work centers on empowering dental professionals through an engaging, practical, and highly accessible teaching style, helping teams approach financial conversations with confidence, clarity, and empathy.
Inside the Shift: What Today's Top Practices are Doing Differently
Speaker: Adrian Valente, Director of Learning and Enablement
In this course, our audience will gain critical understanding of the differences between practices that are operating at a high level (growing collections/profitability, low turnover) and those that are not. These differences will be tied to emerging trends within modern dentistry and how the top performers are hitting those trends head on.
Attendees will be exposed to operational practices at these top performers and will be presented with actionable insights that they can take back to their own practices to implement immediately. A bulk of the insights presented will come from a comprehensive study of 4,900 dental employees that released in early 2026.
Inside the Shift: What Today’s Top Practices are Doing Differently
Presenter: Adrian Valente, Director of Learning and Enablement
Course Description:
In this course, our audience will gain critical understanding of the differences between practices that are operating at a high level (growing collections/profitability, low turnover) and those that are not. These differences will be tied to emerging trends within modern dentistry and how the top performers are hitting those trends head on.
Attendees will be exposed to operational practices at these top performers and will be presented with actionable insights that they can take back to their own practices to implement immediately. A bulk of the insights presented will come from a comprehensive study of 4,900 dental employees that released in early 2026.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Understand key performance benchmarks and determine how your practice stacks up.
- Identify emerging trends shaping high-performing dental practices.
- Develop understanding about how leading practices are responding to changes in patient expectations and market dynamics.
- Takeaway actionable insights to drive measurable improvements in practice performance.
Brought to you by Sunbit
CEO
Rose Nierman is the Founder and CEO of Nierman Practice Management and a nationally recognized expert in medical billing and dental sleep medicine reimbursement. With more than two decades of experience working with dental practices, she has helped thousands of offices successfully implement compliant, profitable medical billing systems.
Rose specializes in simplifying complex insurance regulations and translating them into clear, workable processes for dental teams. Her practical, results-driven approach enables practices to reduce claim denials, improve reimbursement, and increase case acceptance without disrupting daily operations.
She is passionate about empowering dental practices to grow while expanding patient access to quality obstructive sleep apnea care.
The Secrets to Getting Paid by Medical Insurance for Dental Sleep Medicine
Speaker: Rose Nierman, CEO
Medical insurance reimbursement for dental sleep medicine represents a major growth opportunity for today’s dental practices, yet many office managers are unsure how to implement it successfully. Without clear systems, proper documentation, and efficient workflows, claims are often delayed, denied, or underpaid.
Attendees will learn practical, step-by-step strategies to manage medical billing for dental sleep medicine with confidence. The course will cover which services and oral appliances qualify for reimbursement, how to meet diagnosis and documentation requirements, and how to coordinate effectively with physicians. Participants will also gain insight into the complete claims lifecycle, from patient intake and verification to submission, follow-up, and payment.
The Secrets to Getting Paid by Medical Insurance for Dental Sleep Medicine
Presenter: Rose Nierman, CEO
Course Description:
Medical insurance reimbursement for dental sleep medicine represents a major growth opportunity for today’s dental practices, yet many office managers are unsure how to implement it successfully. Without clear systems, proper documentation, and efficient workflows, claims are often delayed, denied, or underpaid.
Attendees will learn practical, step-by-step strategies to manage medical billing for dental sleep medicine with confidence. The course will cover which services and oral appliances qualify for reimbursement, how to meet diagnosis and documentation requirements, and how to coordinate effectively with physicians. Participants will also gain insight into the complete claims lifecycle, from patient intake and verification to submission, follow-up, and payment.
Designed specifically for dental office managers and administrative team, this program provides real-world tools to reduce denials, improve reimbursement, and strengthen case acceptance. Attendees will leave with actionable processes they can implement immediately to support practice growth and improve patient access to care.
Course Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Identify which dental sleep medicine services and oral appliances are eligible for medical insurance reimbursement.
- Understand the documentation, diagnosis codes, and physician collaboration required to support compliant medical claims.
- Implement a step-by-step workflow for submitting, tracking, and managing medical insurance claims for sleep apnea cases.
- Recognize common billing errors and denial triggers and apply strategies to reduce rejections and delays.
Brought to you by Nierman Practice Management
Debra Nash has been a dental consultant, speaker, and author for over 35 years and has spoken at major meetings nationally and internationally. She has also authored several articles for dental publications throughout the world.
Recognized for over 20 years by Dentistry Today as a Leader in Teaching and Consulting, Debra has received several awards, including Top 25 Women in Dentistry and the Gordon Christensen award for Outstanding Lecturer.
Case Closed: How to Increase Treatment Acceptance & Get Paid Now
Speaker: Debra Engelhardt-Nash
You can deliver outstanding dentistry—but if patients don’t say “yes,” your impact (and revenue) is limited. In this fast-paced, highly practical session, Debra Engelhardt-Nash, an award-winning dental consultant and former office manager, reveals what truly drives treatment acceptance in today’s practices. Learn how to connect with patients from the first conversation, present treatment in a way that inspires confidence, and turn financial discussions into collaborative, stress-free solutions.
You’ll discover how top-performing teams use communication, technology, and follow-up systems to remove hesitation and build trust. Walk away with real-world strategies you can implement immediately to boost case acceptance, strengthen patient loyalty, and get paid—consistently and ethically.
Case Closed: How to Increase Treatment Acceptance & Get Paid Now
Presenter: Debra Engelhardt-Nash
Course Description:
The best Office Managers know that an inefficient schedule causes unnecessary stress and misseYou can deliver outstanding dentistry—but if patients don’t say “yes,” your impact (and revenue) is limited. In this fast-paced, highly practical session, Debra Engelhardt-Nash, an award-winning dental consultant and former office manager, reveals what truly drives treatment acceptance in today’s practices. Learn how to connect with patients from the first conversation, present treatment in a way that inspires confidence, and turn financial discussions into collaborative, stress-free solutions.
You’ll discover how top-performing teams use communication, technology, and follow-up systems to remove hesitation and build trust. Walk away with real-world strategies you can implement immediately to boost case acceptance, strengthen patient loyalty, and get paid—consistently and ethically.
Course Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Build instant rapport and uncover what motivates patients to move forward
- Deliver treatment presentations that feel clear, personal, and compelling
- Confidently guide financial conversations without discomfort
- Activate your entire team to support case acceptance
- Use technology to reinforce value and credibility
- Overcome common objections and close more cases
Brought to you by Weave
EVP Revenue
Mike is a seasoned leader in dental technology, with over 13 years of experience driving innovation, growth, and strategic partnerships in the industry. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in transforming how dental practices leverage technology to enhance efficiency, elevate patient care, and maximize production.
Mike was instrumental in shaping the early adoption of patient communication software at Solutionreach, helping practices transition to text-based appointment confirmations. He then played a key role in scaling Dental Intelligence, empowering practices with data-driven insights to optimize performance and practice health. At Weave, he led partnership growth strategies during the company’s rapid expansion.
Now, as the Executive Vice President of Revenue at Pearl, Mike is at the forefront of AI-driven advancements in dentistry. Under his leadership, Pearl has continued to expand its impact in the dental industry, becoming the first company to secure comprehensive FDA clearance for AI-powered radiologic assistance—helping clinicians and teams enhance the detection and diagnosis of pathologies.
A recognized expert in dental technology and practice optimization, Mike is passionate about helping dental professionals embrace innovation to improve outcomes and future-proof their businesses.
Running the Front Office of the Future: How AI Helps Dental Teams Work Smarter
Speaker: Mike Buckner, EVP Revenue
The role of the dental office manager is evolving. Today’s front office is no longer just the hub of scheduling and billing—it’s the engine that drives patient experience, team efficiency, and practice growth. As expectations rise and staffing pressures continue, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical tool for offices looking to scale without burning out their teams.
This course is designed specifically for office managers who want to understand how AI fits into real-world dental operations—not in theory, but in practice. Attendees will explore how AI can support front-office teams by automating repetitive tasks, improving accuracy in insurance verification, and providing clearer visibility into daily operations. The focus is on using AI as a support system—one that helps offices reduce friction, improve consistency, and create a more predictable, patient-friendly workflow.
Running the Front Office of the Future: How AI Helps Dental Teams Work Smarter
Presenters: Mike Buckner, EVP Revenue
Course Description:
The role of the dental office manager is evolving. Today’s front office is no longer just the hub of scheduling and billing—it’s the engine that drives patient experience, team efficiency, and practice growth. As expectations rise and staffing pressures continue, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical tool for offices looking to scale without burning out their teams.
This course is designed specifically for office managers who want to understand how AI fits into real-world dental operations—not in theory, but in practice. Attendees will explore how AI can support front-office teams by automating repetitive tasks, improving accuracy in insurance verification, and providing clearer visibility into daily operations. The focus is on using AI as a support system—one that helps offices reduce friction, improve consistency, and create a more predictable, patient-friendly workflow.
Rather than chasing technology trends, this session empowers office managers to confidently evaluate and adopt AI tools that align with their goals, their teams, and their patients—positioning their practices for long-term success in an increasingly digital dental landscape.
Course Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, attendees will be able to:
- Redefine the Front Office with AI Support: Identify where AI can remove daily administrative friction, support front-office teams, and improve consistency across scheduling, documentation, and patient communication.
- Strengthen Insurance Accuracy and Financial Confidence: Understand how AI-powered insurance verification delivers clearer eligibility insights, reduces preventable denials, and creates more transparent financial conversations with patients.
- Operate with Insight, Not Guesswork: Learn how AI-driven data and workflow visibility help office managers make more informed decisions, improve treatment coordination, and proactively identify opportunities to optimize performance.
Brought to you by Pearl AI
Chief Growth Officer
Jill Hasselmann has spent the last decade of her career spearheading innovative HR initiatives for practices in the healthcare space. As a leader in the HR sector for the dental industry, Jill has a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities practices face and focuses on delivering actionable insights that inform strategic decision-making around HR initiatives.
Jill acknowledges that HR compliance may not be the most exciting subject for some, and enjoys finding the fun in helping dental professionals become more effective and happy at work while managing their HR with confidence.
Clarity, Consistency, Fairness: The Retention Formula Every Dental Office Needs
Speaker: Jill Hasselmann, Chief Growth Officer
Retention doesn’t break down because people “don’t care.” It breaks down when expectations feel unclear, consequences feel inconsistent, or policies, especially around time off, feel unfair.
In this fast-paced, interactive 75-minute session, Jill Hasselmann will share a practical framework built on three retention essentials: clarity, consistency, and fairness. You’ll learn how small improvements to accountability, employee perks, and compliant conversations can reduce conflict, strengthen trust, and help keep great employees longer.
Through quick polls, short exercises, and guided role-play of common HR scenarios, you’ll leave with ready-to-use language and simple tools to navigate the moments that most often impact morale and turnover.
Clarity, Consistency, Fairness: The Retention Formula Every Dental Office Needs
Presenter: Jill Hasselmann, Chief Growth Officer
Course Description:
Retention doesn’t break down because people “don’t care.” It breaks down when expectations feel unclear, consequences feel inconsistent, or policies, especially around time off, feel unfair.
In this fast-paced, interactive 75-minute session, Jill Hasselmann will share a practical framework built on three retention essentials: clarity, consistency, and fairness. You’ll learn how small improvements to accountability, employee perks, and compliant conversations can reduce conflict, strengthen trust, and help keep great employees longer.
Through quick polls, short exercises, and guided role-play of common HR scenarios, you’ll leave with ready-to-use language and simple tools to navigate the moments that most often impact morale and turnover.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the three key factors that impact employee retention: clarity, consistency, and fairness.
- Understand the primary monthly practice management drivers to track and adjust.
- Recognize how unclear expectations and inconsistent practices lead to conflict and turnover.
- Use simple, compliant language to handle common conversations about time off, perks, and accountability.
- Apply practical tools to improve trust, reduce tension, and keep employees longer.
Brought to you by HR for Health
Podcast Host and Founder of Novonee
Dayna Johnson is a dental practice management expert, podcast host and the founder of Novonee, revolutionizing the dental industry through innovation and strategic leadership.
With over 30 years of experience, Dayna’s impact is acknowledged through significant awards, notably being recognized as one of the “Top 25 Women in Dentistry” by Dental Products Report.
She has been featured on several influential platforms like “The Thriving Dentist Show,” and has contributed to reputable dental publications like Dental Products Report magazine. As the host of the popular “The High Performing Dental Team” and her membership, Novonee – The Premier Dentrix Community, Dayna helps doctors struggling with day-to-day management of the practice get access to a like-minded community, educational support and resources that elevate operational success and patient care.
Through her life’s work, Dayna’s goal is to empower dental teams to live up to their true potential, provide guidance that transforms challenges into opportunities, and help dental professionals have the thriving practice they’ve always dreamed of.
The Office Manager Advantage: 10 PMS Features That Transform Daily Operations
Speaker: Dayna Johnson, Podcast Host and Founder of Novonee
If you are responsible for the schedule, production numbers, collections reporting, and daily workflow consistency, this session was built for you.
Many Office Managers rely on manual tracking, side spreadsheets, and repeated double-checking to maintain control. Often, this happens not because the system lacks capability, but because key features have never been fully implemented or aligned to daily operations.
In this CE session, you will review 10 built-in features within your practice management solution that directly impact schedule accuracy, documentation standards, treatment follow-up, collections oversight, and reporting reliability.
The Office Manager Advantage: 10 PMS Features That Transform Daily Operations
Presenter: Dayna Johnson, Podcast Host and Founder of Novonee
Course Description:
If you are responsible for the schedule, production numbers, collections reporting, and daily workflow consistency, this session was built for you.
Many Office Managers rely on manual tracking, side spreadsheets, and repeated double-checking to maintain control. Often, this happens not because the system lacks capability, but because key features have never been fully implemented or aligned to daily operations.
In this CE session, you will review 10 built-in features within your practice management solution that directly impact schedule accuracy, documentation standards, treatment follow-up, collections oversight, and reporting reliability.
You will see how specific tools support tighter appointment control, clearer financial accountability, stronger front-to-back communication, and more accurate performance visibility. Each feature will be tied to a common operational breakdown and demonstrated in a practical, real-world context.
You will leave with clear implementation ideas that can be applied immediately to improve workflow efficiency and reduce unnecessary rework — without adding new software or overhauling your systems.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Identify 10 high-impact features within a practice management solution that improve scheduling accuracy, documentation consistency, and financial workflows.
- Evaluate current operational workarounds and determine where built-in system tools can reduce rework and improve efficiency.
- Apply system-based strategies to strengthen communication and accountability between front office and clinical teams.
- Implement practical tools to improve treatment follow-up, collections oversight, and performance visibility.
- Develop an action plan to leverage existing system capabilities more strategically to support operational leadership
Brought to you by Henry Schein One
Lois Banta
Lois Banta is CEO, President and Founder of Healthcare Enterprises, Inc., a company that specializes in all aspects of dental practice retreats and lectures. Lois has over 45 years of dental experience and consults and speaks nationally and internationally. She is the CEO of The Speaking Consulting Network, CoFounder of COLLABricon and a member of several professional organizations.
Dana Watson, FAADOM
Dana is an international speaker, author of Married to Dentistry, and a dedicated advocate for excellence in the dental field. After a decade of teaching high school science, she transitioned to dentistry to help her husband run his practice. With over 20 years of experience, Dana has developed a passion for empowering dental teams to achieve their best.
Her speaking journey began in 2006, sharing insights on Bettering Your Best with an international audience. Today, Dana inspires teams with her expertise in leadership, culture, and systems. A Fellow of the American Association of Dental Office Managers and a member of the Academy of Dental Managers & Consultants, she was honored as SCN’s Spotlight on Speaking Winner in 2019.
Dana is also a certified Five Voices of Leadership trainer, focusing on building strong leaders and fostering excellence within dental practices worldwide.
The Yellow Brick Road to YES!
Speakers: Lois Banta & Dana Watson
Are your patients clicking their heels… right out the door instead of moving forward with treatment?
In today’s dental practice, there’s no magic spell for case acceptance—but there is a clear path. In this Wizard of Oz–inspired session, attendees will follow the “Yellow Brick Road to YES” and discover what truly influences patient decision-making.
From the Scarecrow’s need for clear, simplified communication, to the Tin Man’s heart of empathy, to the Cowardly Lion’s confidence in presentation—and even the Wicked Witch of team misalignment—this course uncovers the hidden barriers that can quietly derail treatment acceptance.
Through practical strategies and relatable examples, participants will learn how to guide patients with clarity, connect on a human level, present financial options with confidence, and create a consistent team experience that builds trust from the first step to the final “yes.”
The Yellow Brick Road to YES!
Presenters: Lois Banta & Dana Watson, FAADOM
Course Description:
Are your patients clicking their heels… right out the door instead of moving forward with treatment?
In today’s dental practice, there’s no magic spell for case acceptance—but there is a clear path. In this Wizard of Oz–inspired session, attendees will follow the “Yellow Brick Road to YES” and discover what truly influences patient decision-making.
From the Scarecrow’s need for clear, simplified communication, to the Tin Man’s heart of empathy, to the Cowardly Lion’s confidence in presentation—and even the Wicked Witch of team misalignment—this course uncovers the hidden barriers that can quietly derail treatment acceptance.
Through practical strategies and relatable examples, participants will learn how to guide patients with clarity, connect on a human level, present financial options with confidence, and create a consistent team experience that builds trust from the first step to the final “yes.”
Because when your team is aligned and your message is clear… there really is no place like YES.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Identify the key breakdowns in communication, trust, and financial presentation that impact treatment acceptance.
- Apply clear and patient-centered communication strategies to improve understanding and reduce hesitation.
- Demonstrate techniques for building trust and creating patient desire for treatment.
- Implement confident and supportive financial conversations that increase case acceptance and patient commitment.
Brought to you by CareCredit
Friday Afternoon Education Powered by Industry Leaders
VP of Sales and Marketing
Joining just prior to the launch of the JAZZ SOLO sensor in 2016, Aaron brings over 25 years of sales, sales management and marketing experience between Silicon Valley startups, virtual training and dental imaging technology to JAZZ Imaging. Aaron’s first experience in digital radiography was with DEXIS in 2002 as a District Sales Manager and eventually a Regional Sales Manager for the West. His experience at startups like gForce, Docent and VirTra have helped shape the JAZZ brand and its sales and marketing efforts into the fastest growing sensor company in the US.
Managing Digital Sensors Sucks. Let's Make it Better
Speaker: Aaron DeCorte, VP of Sales and Marketing
Every practice has to take radiographs and most do it with direct digital sensors. It’s the best way to capture images but a nightmare to manage cost, warranty issues and ongoing integration. By understanding where and how you can negotiate with your provider you can minimize the pain of owning and maintaining sensors.
Managing Digital Sensors Sucks. Let’s Make it Better
Presenter:Aaron DeCorte, VP of Sales and Marketing
Course Description:
Every practice has to take radiographs and most do it with direct digital sensors. It’s the best way to capture images but a nightmare to manage cost, warranty issues and ongoing integration. By understanding where and how you can negotiate with your provider you can minimize the pain of owning and maintaining sensors.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Know when to leave a current sensor vendor and know when to stay.
- Learn the in-and-outs of sensor warranties and how to get what you want when you need it.
- How to negotiate price and terms with dealers versus direct sensor vendors.
- Understand and overcome software constraints (direct integration versus TWAIN).
- How to keep your clinical staff happy without breaking the bank.
Brought to you by Jazz Imaging
Christi Bintliff
Christi Bintliff, MAADOM, is a Practice Administrator and in-house coach for a multi-doctor dental practice in Durham, North Carolina. She is also a dental performance and development consultant with more than 30 plus years of hands-on experience in dental practice leadership and management. In 2019, she successfully launched her consulting company, LEAP 2 Solutions. In her spare time, she enjoys DIY home projects, upcycling and repurposing discarded items in the most unexpected ways, and landscaping/gardening.
Cheryl McKenna
A 26-year veteran of the merchant services industry, Cheryl McKenna helps dental Office Managers save money on and increase the efficiency of their patient payment systems. Cheryl refuses to have a boring workday and tries to make everyone she encounters smile, laugh, or both. She teaches and consults on all aspects of electronic payments, systems, and how to save money to increase profits.
She is honored to have worked with hundreds of AADOM practices over the last 12 years.
Claudia LaSmith, DAADOM
With 25 years of dental experience, I began my career as a Dental Assistant and have grown into my current role as Office Manager. I’m honored to serve as the Treasurer of the NC Triangle Dental Professional Learning Network and to have earned my DAADOM designation in 2021 as part of the first-ever class. For the past 12 years, I’ve proudly managed Bell Family Dentistry alongside Dr. Tara Bell, fostering a supportive and efficient environment for both patients and team members.
Recognized as one of the Faces of AADOM 2025 and a published author of industry articles, I’m passionate about leadership, team development, and advancing excellence in dental practice management.
Candy Miller
With over two decades of experience in dental practice management, Candace Miller brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and operational excellence to every aspect of dental office administration. Throughout her career spanning 20+ years, she has successfully overseen daily operations, patient relations, team coordination, and regulatory compliance in both private and multi-provider practices. Dedicated, organized, and passionate about patient-centered care, Candace continues to be a trusted leader and key asset in any dental care environment.
The Business Case for You: Proving the AADOM Conference Is a Practice Investment
Speakers: Cheryl McKenna, Christie Bintliff, Claudia LaSmith & Candy Miller
Getting approval to attend a conference isn’t just about enthusiasm—it’s about clearly demonstrating return on investment. This course is designed for office managers and practice leaders who want to confidently justify conference attendance and position it as a strategic business decision, not a discretionary expense.
We’ll start by busting common myths, including the belief that “the office manager should already know this,” and reframing conferences as critical tools for staying ahead of rapid changes in technology, compliance, and operations. You’ll learn how to articulate the value of education, networking, and exposure to industry innovations in terms doctors care about: revenue growth, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and efficiency.
The Business Case for You: Proving the AADOM Conference Is a Practice Investment
Presenters: Cheryl McKenna, Christie Bintliff, Claudia LaSmith & Candy Miller
Course Description:
Getting approval to attend a conference isn’t just about enthusiasm—it’s about clearly demonstrating return on investment. This course is designed for office managers and practice leaders who want to confidently justify conference attendance and position it as a strategic business decision, not a discretionary expense.
We’ll start by busting common myths, including the belief that “the office manager should already know this,” and reframing conferences as critical tools for staying ahead of rapid changes in technology, compliance, and operations. You’ll learn how to articulate the value of education, networking, and exposure to industry innovations in terms doctors care about: revenue growth, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and efficiency.
The course also explores the power of tapping into experts rather than trying to do everything yourself. We’ll discuss how conferences provide direct access to specialists, peers, and solution providers—saving time, reducing costly trial-and-error, and accelerating better decision-making.
Finally, we’ll break down the difference between streamlining and outsourcing, and how insights gained at conferences can help practices determine when to optimize internal workflows versus when to leverage external partners.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Identify and dispel common myths that undermine the perceived value of conference attendance
- Communicate conference ROI in terms of revenue, efficiency, and risk reduction that resonate with doctors
- Leverage conferences to access experts and reduce costly trial-and-error
- Evaluate when to streamline internal processes versus outsource to external partners
- Build a clear, confident framework for gaining doctor buy-in for professional development investments
Brought to you by Merchant Advocate
CEO & Founder of Dentala Consulting
Tala Batarseh is the visionary founder of DENTALA Consulting, a respected leader in the dental industry. With over 15 years of experience, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Commerce and Administration from York University, a Certificate in General Management, and a Certificate in Dental Practice Management from the University of Toronto. Tala is deeply committed to mentorship, coaching clinicians and teams to excel. Blending academic expertise with hands-on experience, she helps dental professionals build, scale, and optimize successful practices with confidence.
Silent Killers of Practice Performance
Speaker: Tala Batarseh, CEO & Founder of Dentala Consulting
Intentional growth prevents silent failure.
This talk focuses on the measurable factors that quietly erode production and profitability in dental practices. We will break down how downtime in the schedule, inefficient use of clinical hours, and missed opportunities in treatment flow reduce output without being obvious day to day. Attendees will learn how to identify these performance leaks using data, benchmarks, and simple metrics—and how to correct them to drive consistent, sustainable growth.
Silent Killers of Practice Performance
Presenter: Tala Batarseh, CEO & Founder of Dentala Consulting
Course Description:
Intentional growth prevents silent failure.
This talk focuses on the measurable factors that quietly erode production and profitability in dental practices. We will break down how downtime in the schedule, inefficient use of clinical hours, and missed opportunities in treatment flow reduce output without being obvious day to day. Attendees will learn how to identify these performance leaks using data, benchmarks, and simple metrics—and how to correct them to drive consistent, sustainable growth.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Measure it: Establish and track the key metrics that reveal downtime, underutilized clinical hours, and breakdowns in treatment flow
- Identify it: Use data and benchmarks to pinpoint where production and profitability are being lost and why current systems are underperforming
- Change it: Translate insights into new or refined protocols that correct inefficiencies, standardize performance, and drive consistent, sustainable growth.
Brought to you by Oryx Dental Software
Partner
Parham Nabatian is the co-founder of The DocSites and for the last 15+ years he has collaborated with dental practices to help them achieve a successful online presence. He got his start by helping his first client, a childhood friend, expand to more than 11 offices by utilizing online marketing.
Over the past decade, his company has been retained by 100s of dental offices of all shapes and sizes to implement a successful web presence and achieve their respective goals. His personal passions involve family, community activities, sports, and travel!
Attracting Quality Patients: A Comprehensive Strategy and Tactical Campaign for Success
Speaker: Parham Nabatian, Partner
This course will walk you through a comprehensive strategy to not only attract but also retain the right patients for your practice. Dental practices are pillars of a community, and marketing with that mindset will achieve long-term growth.
You’ll learn simple, effective ways to optimize your team’s efforts online, leverage services like search engine optimization (SEO), AI Search, Google advertising, and Google Maps optimization, and ensure your website effectively showcases your expertise, builds trust, and engages potential patients.
Attracting Quality Patients: A Comprehensive Strategy and Tactical Campaign for Success
Presenter: Parham Nabatian, Partner
Course Description:
This course will walk you through a comprehensive strategy to not only attract but also retain the right patients for your practice. Dental practices are pillars of a community, and marketing with that mindset will achieve long-term growth.
You’ll learn simple, effective ways to optimize your team’s efforts online, leverage services like search engine optimization (SEO), AI Search, Google advertising, and Google Maps optimization, and ensure your website effectively showcases your expertise, builds trust, and engages potential patients.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to establish a foundation for your practice to gain patients long-term.
- In-depth understanding of the core elements of Search Engine Optimization, AI Search, and Google Maps optimization, to stand out in a crowded market.
- Ensure your website clearly highlights your practice’s unique value propositions and effectively converts visitors into loyal patients.
- Understand the key factors of Google Advertising to ensure a positive ROI and avoid wasting your budget.
- Leverage AI and other support tools to give patients an optimal online experience.
Brought to you by DocSites
Co-founder and Chief Dental Billing Officer at Wisdom
Ashley Bond is the co-founder and Chief Dental Billing Officer at Wisdom and the founder of Bond Dental Billing. With a background rooted in hands-on dental practice operations, she worked alongside her father in his dental practice and brings real-world insight into the financial and operational challenges office managers face.
Ashley is an active ASCA member through the AADOM Speaker Consulting Alliance and a consistent annual attendee of the AADOM conference. She is a trusted advisor to dental practices nationwide, specializing in revenue cycle oversight, billing performance analysis, and leadership-level financial clarity.
Ashley is a frequent national speaker known for delivering practical, data-driven education that office managers can implement immediately.
The Financial Numbers You Are Expected to Know (But Rarely Taught)
Speaker: Ashley Bond, Co-founder and Chief Dental Billing Officer at Wisdom
Office managers and front office leaders are responsible for billing outcomes, whether they are doing the work themselves or overseeing others who are. But most were never formally taught how to truly understand the financial numbers they are expected to report on.
This course is designed to help you move from reacting to numbers to confidently leading billing performance. We will break down the core financial and billing numbers every dental leader should know in a clear, practical way. You will learn what each number actually means, what it reveals about the health of your practice, and how daily billing habits directly impact the bigger financial picture.
The Financial Numbers You Are Expected to Know (But Rarely Taught)
Presenter: Ashley Bond, Co-founder and Chief Dental Billing Officer at Wisdom
Course Description:
Office managers and front office leaders are responsible for billing outcomes, whether they are doing the work themselves or overseeing others who are.
But most were never formally taught how to truly understand the financial numbers they are expected to report on.
This course is designed to help you move from reacting to numbers to confidently leading billing performance. We will break down the core financial and billing numbers every dental leader should know in a clear, practical way. You will learn what each number actually means, what it reveals about the health of your practice, and how daily billing habits directly impact the bigger financial picture.
You will also learn how to recognize early warning signs in collections, aging, adjustments, and denials, and how to pinpoint where breakdowns are occurring in your billing workflow before they turn into larger problems.
This session is valuable for both newer and experienced office managers, as well as front office administrators, insurance coordinators, and treatment planners, whether billing is handled in house, outsourced, or hybrid. Attendees will leave with tools they can apply immediately to confidently own and guide billing performance.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Understand the key financial and billing numbers every office manager is expected to know
- Learn what those numbers really mean and what they reveal about practice health
- Recognize early warning signs in collections, aging, adjustments, and denials
- See how daily billing actions directly impact overall financial performance
- Walk away with clear next steps to improve oversight, accountability, and results
Brought to you by Wisdom Dental Billing
Allan Corkum FSA, MAAA is a nationally recognized leader in dental and vision benefits with over 20 years of experience in actuarial strategy, network development, and healthcare innovation. As VP of Dental Networks at UnitedHealthcare, he oversees provider engagement, compliance, and infrastructure across Commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.
A Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, Allan chairs the NADP Research Commission, has served on the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and received the Don Mayes Leadership and Star Awards. He’s known for collaborative leadership, data-driven decisions, and advancing the dental industry through strategic contributions and speaking engagements.
Dr. Paul McConnell is the Dental Director of Clinical Operations for UnitedHealthcare Dental, where he leads dental consultants and collaborates across utilization management, provider networks, and product teams to align clinical insights with industry trends and client needs. He brings nearly 30 years of healthcare experience, including 18 years in dentistry. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare, Dr. McConnell owned and operated a nine‑chair general dental practice serving commercial and Medicaid patients. A U.S. Army veteran, he served as a dentist both domestically and during a 2009 deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.
Colleen Huff, FAADOM, is a nationally recognized dental insurance expert with more than 30 years of industry experience. Beginning her career in dental insurance customer service, she went on to lead multi‑location practice operations, build practices from the ground up, and found a study group for practice administrators. In 2021, Colleen transitioned to full‑time consulting and public speaking. Known as the “Dental Insurance Coach,” she helps practices nationwide improve revenue cycle performance and insurance workflows. She is the author of A Mouthful of Insurance (2024), a frequent industry contributor, and a former “Insurance Guru” with Front Office Rocks.
The New Dental Insurance Reality: Trends, Pitfalls, and Solutions for Today’s Dental Offices
Speakers: Allan Corkum, Dr. Paul McConnell & Colleen Huff
The dental insurance landscape is evolving rapidly, creating new challenges—and new opportunities—for today’s dental practices. As payers shift toward digital-first processes, real‑time decisioning, and automation, dental teams are feeling the impact in claims management, credentialing, eligibility verification, patient communication, and overall administrative load. This course provides a clear, practical look at the trends shaping 2026 and how they directly influence daily operations in the dental office.
Participants will gain insight into the most common pain points practices encounter with insurance carriers, including avoidable delays, documentation pitfalls, and workflow gaps that contribute to denials and rework. The session also highlights how payers are improving provider experience and where offices can tap into new tools, guidance, and efficiencies. Whether you’re focused on streamlining front‑office tasks, improving transparency for patients, or reducing administrative friction across your team, this course offers actionable strategies to make dental insurance processes more predictable, efficient, and patient‑friendly.
The New Dental Insurance Reality: Trends, Pitfalls, and Solutions for Today’s Dental Offices
Presenters: Allan Corkum – VP of Dental Networks at UnitedHealthcare, Dr. Paul McConnell – Dental Director of Clinical Operations & A&G at UnitedHealthcare & Colleen Huff, FAADOM – Dental Insurance Coach
Course Description:
The dental insurance landscape is evolving rapidly, creating new challenges—and new opportunities—for today’s dental practices. As payers shift toward digital-first processes, real‑time decisioning, and automation, dental teams are feeling the impact in claims management, credentialing, eligibility verification, patient communication, and overall administrative load. This course provides a clear, practical look at the trends shaping 2026 and how they directly influence daily operations in the dental office.
Participants will gain insight into the most common pain points practices encounter with insurance carriers, including avoidable delays, documentation pitfalls, and workflow gaps that contribute to denials and rework. The session also highlights how payers are improving provider experience and where offices can tap into new tools, guidance, and efficiencies. Whether you’re focused on streamlining front‑office tasks, improving transparency for patients, or reducing administrative friction across your team, this course offers actionable strategies to make dental insurance processes more predictable, efficient, and patient‑friendly.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Identify key industry trends influencing dental insurance operations in 2026.
- Recognize common pitfalls in claims, credentialing, and verification workflows that lead to preventable delays or denials.
- Apply practical strategies to improve documentation, attachments, and office‑to‑payer communication.
- Utilize payer tools and digital resources to streamline administrative processes and reduce rework.
Brought to you by UnitedHealthcare
Friday Afternoon Education Powered by Industry Leaders
MS, FAADOM – VP of AI
Laura Nelson, MS, FAADOM, is the founder of Front Office Rocks and Vice President of AI, Training & Development at Mango Voice. With more than 20 years of experience in dentistry, Laura helps practices improve front office systems, elevate customer service, and adapt to the evolving role of technology in patient communication.
Her work bridges the gap between people, process, and innovation—showing dental teams how to use tools like AI and modern phone systems to reduce chaos, increase consistency, and create better patient experiences. Known for her practical approach and relatable style, Laura equips dental leaders and teams with strategies they can apply immediately to build stronger operations and long-term patient loyalty.
Work Smarter, Care Deeper: The Office Manager's Guide to AI + Human Excellence
Speaker: Laura Nelson, MS, FAADOM - VP of AI
Dental practices today face a critical challenge: implementing AI for efficiency without losing the human touch that builds patient loyalty. This dynamic session empowers dental office managers to harness artificial intelligence while simultaneously elevating their team’s soft skills—creating practices that are both cutting-edge efficient and warmly human.
You’ll discover practical AI applications you can implement immediately: automated scheduling, intelligent phone systems, and streamlined insurance verification that free your team from administrative overwhelm. But here’s the game-changer: when AI handles routine tasks, your team gains precious time and mental space to master the soft skills that truly differentiate your practice—empathetic communication, authentic connection, and relationship-building that patients rave about.
Work Smarter, Care Deeper: The Office Manager’s Guide to AI + Human Excellence
Presenter: Laura Nelson, MS, FAADOM – VP of AI
Course Description:
Dental practices today face a critical challenge: implementing AI for efficiency without losing the human touch that builds patient loyalty. This dynamic session empowers dental office managers to harness artificial intelligence while simultaneously elevating their team’s soft skills—creating practices that are both cutting-edge efficient and warmly human.
You’ll discover practical AI applications you can implement immediately: automated scheduling, intelligent phone systems, and streamlined insurance verification that free your team from administrative overwhelm. But here’s the game-changer: when AI handles routine tasks, your team gains precious time and mental space to master the soft skills that truly differentiate your practice—empathetic communication, authentic connection, and relationship-building that patients rave about.
This motivating session combines real-world examples with practical frameworks you can apply in your own practice. You’ll leave inspired and equipped with clear next steps to create the balanced practice your team deserves and your patients demand. Stop choosing between efficiency and empathy—learn to leverage both.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Identify 3-5 high-impact AI tools that can immediately reduce administrative burden in dental practices, including automated scheduling, phone systems, and patient communication workflows.
- Apply the “Balance Framework” to determine which tasks in their practice should be automated and which require human judgment, empathy, and personal connection—ensuring technology enhances rather than diminishes patient relationships.
- Recognize and develop the five essential soft skills (empathetic communication, authentic connection, collaborative teamwork, adaptive problem-solving, and emotional resilience) that become the competitive advantage as AI handles routine tasks.
- Lead their teams through technology adoption by addressing common fears, reframing AI’s role, and creating a clear action plan that implements one AI solution while simultaneously strengthening team soft skills.
Brought to you by Mango Voice
Founder & CEO
Aaron Boone is a former All-American collegiate athlete and nine-year professional football player who, after hanging up his cleats, found a new passion in the dental industry. For more than 15 years, he has applied the same discipline and performance metrics from football to dental marketing—specifically, dental direct mail.
As Founder and CEO of MVP Mailhouse, Aaron has helped thousands of dental practices nationwide and analyzed millions of mailed pieces and hundreds of thousands of marketing calls to drive predictable new patient growth. His passion is helping Office Managers and dentists use real marketing data to prove ROI and confidently lead growth.
Be a Game-Changer OM: Using Pro Football Strategy & Real Dental Marketing Data to Grow Your Practice
Speaker: Aaron Boone - Founder & CEO
Office Managers are no longer just managing schedules and teams—they’re leading growth. This session is for OMs who want to become true “game-changers” by using proven strategies and real data to drive smarter marketing decisions.
Led by former professional football player turned dental marketing expert Aaron Boone, this course applies principles from pro football—where performance is measured, game plans adjusted, and results are tracked—to show how the same mindset can be applied to dental marketing. Attendees will learn to stop guessing and start making confident, data-driven decisions about where patients come from, what they respond to, and how teams convert leads into scheduled appointments.
Be a Game-Changer OM: Using Pro Football Strategy & Real Dental Marketing Data to Grow Your Practice
Presenter: Aaron Boone – Founder & CEO
Course Description:
Office Managers are no longer just managing schedules and teams—they’re leading growth. This session is for OMs who want to become true “game-changers” by using proven strategies and real data to drive smarter marketing decisions.
Led by former professional football player turned dental marketing expert Aaron Boone, this course applies principles from pro football—where performance is measured, game plans adjusted, and results are tracked—to show how the same mindset can be applied to dental marketing. Attendees will learn to stop guessing and start making confident, data-driven decisions about where patients come from, what they respond to, and how teams convert leads into scheduled appointments.
Drawing from insights from thousands of dental practices nationwide, this session explores how geography and demographics shape patient behavior using heat maps and real examples, and how design choices and offers influence whether campaigns attract insurance patients, cash patients, or membership plan enrollments.
Participants will see why the front desk is one of the most powerful drivers of growth, using insights from hundreds of thousands of recorded marketing calls. The session concludes with ROI and cost-per-acquisition benchmarks so teams can measure performance and hold vendors accountable, and confidently lead practice growth.
Course Learning Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Use real marketing data to evaluate performance instead of relying on opinions or vendor reports
- Understand how geography, demographics, and patient travel patterns impact new patient growth
- Identify high-value and low-value target areas using existing patient data and heat maps
- Compare marketing options using realistic ROI and cost-per-acquisition benchmarks
- Recognize how design elements and offers influence the type of patients a practice attracts
- Understand the critical role front-desk call handling plays in converting marketing leads into scheduled appointments
- Apply practical strategies to improve accountability and predictability in patient acquisition
- Lead marketing conversations with confidence and authority as a key driver of practice growth
Brought to you by MVP Mailhouse
Founder
Steven J. Anderson is widely considered dentistry’s “Yes” man, coaching teams to top levels of patient service and case acceptance success. He is the founder of the Total Patient Service Institute, Crown Council, and has been named Dental Businessman of the Year by Excellence in Dentistry. He is the author of 9 books, including The Culture of Success – 10 Natural Laws for Creating the Place Where Everyone Wants to Work, and has spoken at every major dental meeting in the country.
His philanthropic efforts include the co-founding of the Smiles for Life Foundation, the largest charity campaign in the dental industry, having raised and donated over 50 million dollars to children’s and dental charitable causes around the world, as well as Eagle University, an education foundation conducting leadership programs to help high school and college students get a 7-year head start on their career.
The “Yes” Practice Team - The team case acceptance solution to always produce more than scheduled.
Speaker: Steven J. Anderson - Founder
There’s never been a day in dentistry that turned out exactly as planned! Scheduling changes, treatment modifications, team challenges – they all add up to production less than originally scheduled.
But, not for the “Yes” Practice Team!
The “Yes” Practice Team – The team case acceptance solution to always produce more than scheduled.
Presenter: Steven J. Anderson – Founder
Course Description:
There’s never been a day in dentistry that turned out exactly as planned! Scheduling changes, treatment modifications, team challenges – they all add up to production less than originally scheduled.
But, not for the “Yes” Practice Team!
Course Learning Objectives:
In this information-packed, entertaining session you’ll…
Discover:
- The #1 Daily Habit of teams who consistently produce more
than scheduled. - The Most Powerful Principle that unites the best teams for
top performance. - The most overlooked thing patients want most from their
dental team that creates the most repeat and referral business. - The Biggest Myth today about the scheduling and what to
do about it. - The top 3 moves you need to take NOW to boost your
team’s daily productivity. - STOP Cancellations and other scheduling interruptions.
- End the day better than you had scheduled, every day!
And much, much more!
Brought to you by Total Patient Service Institute – ToPS
Bo Nielsen has spent over 25 years working with thousands of veterinary and healthcare practices through his company, AutoRemind. Bo uses his deep knowledge of healthcare technology to help his customers set strategies and execute digital marketing and communication programs.
With a degree in computer science and a background in software development, Bo brings a strong technical understanding of digital media. Before entering the healthcare industry, he played a key role in moving the globally renowned toy brand LEGO into the digital space. Read more
No BS Marketing Class
Speaker: Bo Nielsen
This class will equip you with insights and practical tools to cut through the BS surrounding marketing and customer communication, bringing common sense to digital marketing with real examples and data-driven analysis. It will make you think about your strategies to attract new customers and stay top of mind with existing ones.
We will discuss websites, social media, online reputation, SEO, AI Search (GEO), digital advertising, email, and text marketing to help you prioritize resources and investments effectively. As a result, you will be able to refine your strategy and messaging, set clear communication goals, and manage your website or marketing partners to do what makes the most impact on your practice.
No BS Marketing Class
Presenter: Bo Nielsen
Course Description:
This class will equip you with insights and practical tools to cut through the BS surrounding marketing and customer communication, bringing common sense to digital marketing with real examples and data-driven analysis. It will make you think about your strategies to attract new customers and stay top of mind with existing ones.
We will discuss websites, social media, online reputation, SEO, AI Search (GEO), digital advertising, email, and text marketing to help you prioritize resources and investments effectively. As a result, you will be able to refine your strategy and messaging, set clear communication goals, and manage your website or marketing partners to do what makes the most impact on your practice.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Clearly state your company’s value proposition on your website, highlighting what sets you apart from the competition.
- Learn the pros and cons of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and online advertising. Can you really rank #1 on Google? What is going on with AI Search (GEO)
- See if it is possible to manage your online reputation. Discover strategies for managing and improving your online reputation.
- Understand the importance of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and why digital communication is essential for engaging your current customers.
- Find out if your followers actually get to see your social posts and utilize your social media channels more effectively.
- Learn the basic legal considerations in patient communication to ensure compliance and avoid common potholes.
Brought to you by AutoRemind
Debra Engelhardt-Nash
Debra Nash has been a dental consultant, speaker, author for over 35 years and has spoken at major meetings nationally and internationally. She has also authored several articles for dental publications throughout the world. Recognized over 20 years by Dentistry Today as a Leader in Teaching and Consulting, Debra has received several awards including Top 25 Women in Dentistry and the Gordon Christensen award for Outstanding Lecturer.
Debbie Evans
Debbie Evans has been in healthcare for more than 30 years and currently works as the Practice Administrator and Vice President at Wainright & Wassel, DDS in North Carolina. She has earned her Diplomat in the American Association of Dental Office Management (DAADOM), is co-president of the AADOM Triangle Area Chapter and was one of AADOM’s 2020 Practice Administrators of the Year.
Ryan Vet
Ryan Vet, MBA, is an international speaker and best-selling author that focuses on leadership, business, and customer experience. He has presented to audiences around the globe, on four different continents and has been featured in USA Today, Financial Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, Forbes, and many others for his entrepreneurial endeavors. Ryan is passionate about spurring others on towards a positive change in their career, their business, and their personal lives.
The Office Manager’s AI Playbook: What to Use, How It Works, and How to Optimize Your Tea
Speakers: Debra Engelhardt-Nash, Debbie Evans & Ryan Vet
AI isn’t coming to the dental office—it’s already here, and it’s changing the game. The question is: are you using it… or is it using you? In this fast-paced, no-fluff panel, office manager DAADOM, Debbie Evans, as well as two top dental consultants, Debra Engelhardt-Nash and Ryan Vet, share exactly how they’ve tested, adopted, and optimized AI tools in real practices.
From free apps to premium platforms, you’ll hear what actually works, what’s overrated, and what saves hours every week. Learn how AI can tame scheduling chaos, boost patient communication, reduce admin overload, and energize your team. You’ll also get real-world tips for rolling out new tech, training staff, and leading change—without stress, confusion, or eye rolls. Bring your questions and leave with a smarter, sharper AI playbook.
Presenters: Debra Engelhardt-Nash, Debbie Evans, DAADOM & Ryan Vet
Course Description:
AI isn’t coming to the dental office—it’s already here, and it’s changing the game. The question is: are you using it… or is it using you? In this fast-paced, no-fluff panel, office manager DAADOM, Debbie Evans, as well as two top dental consultants, Debra Engelhardt-Nash and Ryan Vet, share exactly how they’ve tested, adopted, and optimized AI tools in real practices.
From free apps to premium platforms, you’ll hear what actually works, what’s overrated, and what saves hours every week. Learn how AI can tame scheduling chaos, boost patient communication, reduce admin overload, and energize your team. You’ll also get real-world tips for rolling out new tech, training staff, and leading change—without stress, confusion, or eye rolls. Bring your questions and leave with a smarter, sharper AI playbook.
Course Learning Objectives:
By attending this session, participants will be able to:
- Spot high-impact AI tools that truly move the needle in daily operations
- Compare free and paid platforms with confidence and clarity
- Build AI-powered workflows for scheduling, billing, and patient engagement
- Train team members quickly and effectively on new systems
- Lead change without resistance, burnout, or morale drops
- Fine-tune existing technology for maximum efficiency and profitability
Brought to you by Weave
Co-founder and VP of Strategic Growth
Pete Johnson is the cofounder of Lasso MD, the #1 new patient marketing platform built for dental practices. A true innovator in dental website design and digital marketing solutions, Pete saw how traditional agencies routinely overpromised, underdelivered, and failed to provide the transparency practices truly deserve.
Frustrated by the disconnect between flashy promises and real-world results, he helped launch Lasso MD to bring clarity, accountability, and measurable growth to the dental industry. Passionate about helping practices thrive, Pete combines data-driven strategies with a deep commitment to turning vision into results; making big dreams a reality for every office he serves.
Mastering AI-Search Visibility
Speaker: Pete Johnson, Co-founder and VP of Strategic Growth
This course explains how dental practices can increase their visibility in modern AI-driven search environments. Participants will learn how traditional SEO principles intersect with emerging AI search technologies, and how to structure dental website content so it can be accurately interpreted, summarized, and recommended by AI tools such as Google AI Overview, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and similar platforms. The course emphasizes practical, ethical, and scalable strategies appropriate for real-world dental practices.
Mastering AI-Search Visibility
Presenter: Pete Johnson, Co-founder and VP of Strategic Growth
Course Description:
This course explains how dental practices can increase their visibility in modern AI-driven search environments. Participants will learn how traditional SEO principles intersect with emerging AI search technologies, and how to structure dental website content so it can be accurately interpreted, summarized, and recommended by AI tools such as Google AI Overview, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and similar platforms. The course emphasizes practical, ethical, and scalable strategies appropriate for real-world dental practices.
Course Learning Objectives:
- Distinguish between traditional SEO and AI-driven search visibility, including how modern AI search platforms interpret, summarize, and recommend dental content differently than keyword-based search engines.
- Identify the primary AI-powered search and answer platforms influencing patient discovery, such as Google AI Overview, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, and explain how patients use these tools to research and select dental providers.
- Apply the core principles of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) by structuring and labeling dental website content so it can be accurately ingested, localized, and surfaced within AI-generated summaries that drive appointment intent.
- Implement Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) strategies using structured FAQs and service content to deliver clear, authoritative answers to high-intent patient questions related to cost, insurance, and treatment decisions.
- Recognize how Large Language Model Optimization (LLMO) strengthens practice credibility and visibility, enabling AI systems to reference and recommend a dental practice through authoritative, clearly structured long-form educational content.
- Evaluate practical opportunities to improve AI search visibility in order to outperform competing practices and increase qualified new patient acquisition and revenue.
Brought to you by Lasso MD
GTM Enablement Lead at Overjet and a Registered Dental Hygienist
Rhegan Stwart is the GTM Enablement Lead at Overjet and a Registered Dental Hygienist with firsthand experience in clinical workflows, patient education, and practice operations. She focuses on bridging the gap between dentistry and technology by translating real-world clinical challenges into scalable go-to-market strategies that drive adoption and results. With a background spanning hygiene, enterprise sales, and revenue growth, she is passionate about enabling teams to sell with confidence while helping practices deliver clearer diagnoses, stronger documentation, and better patient outcomes.
The Office Manager Tech Stack: Tools That Actually Make Your Day Easier
Speaker: Rhegan Stewart - GTM Enablement Lead at Overjet and a Registered Dental Hygienist
Office managers are expected to do everything—manage schedules, handle insurance, support clinical teams, and deliver a great patient experience—often with outdated systems and manual workflows.
In this live session, Registered Dental Hygienist Rhegan Stewart breaks down the modern tech stack every office manager should know. You’ll see how Dental AI X-ray Analysis, Voice AI, and AI-powered Insurance Verification work together to reduce administrative burden, improve accuracy, and create smoother, more confident patient conversations.
Presenter:Rhegan Stewart – GTM Enablement Lead at Overjet and a Registered Dental Hygienist
Course Description:
Office managers are expected to do everything—manage schedules, handle insurance, support clinical teams, and deliver a great patient experience—often with outdated systems and manual workflows.
In this live session, Registered Dental Hygienist Rhegan Stewart breaks down the modern tech stack every office manager should know. You’ll see how Dental AI X-ray Analysis, Voice AI, and AI-powered Insurance Verification work together to reduce administrative burden, improve accuracy, and create smoother, more confident patient conversations.
Through real-world workflows and practical examples, you’ll learn how these tools connect to simplify documentation, clarify insurance coverage, and strengthen patient communication. Voice AI captures clinical conversations and generates notes, Insurance Verification delivers real-time eligibility and coverage insights, and Dental AI X-ray Analysis provides FDA-cleared measurements to support stronger insurance submissions.
Together, these technologies create one connected workflow—reducing handoffs, minimizing rework, and giving teams more time to focus on what matters most: delivering exceptional patient care.
Course Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify the core components of a modern office manager tech stack and understand how each tool supports daily workflows.
- Explain how Voice AI improves documentation, compliance, and patient communication while reducing manual effort.
- Understand how AI-powered Insurance Verification works and how it impacts claim accuracy, denials, and financial conversations.
- Connect Voice AI and Insurance Verification into a single workflow to streamline operations across the front desk and clinical teams.
- Apply practical strategies to reduce administrative burden and improve patient experience using AI-driven tools..
Brought to you by Overjet
Jim DiMarino, DMD, MSEd, CDC, FACD
Dr. DiMarino is an international speaker and the Chief Executive Officer at Practice Booster and eAssist Publishing, LLC. He holds a dental degree and masters degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a General Practice Residency, became a solopreneur practicing general dentistry, all while researching and implementing advanced dental technologies and consulting as a Dentrix and Schick trainer. Dr. DiMarino has worked in the dental insurance industry as a dental claims reviewer, a State Dental Director, and as a National Dental Director. In 2018 he completed the certification requirements to become an AADС Certified Dental Consultant.
Dr. DiMarino served as the Director of Medical Affairs for GlaxoSmithKline ensuring the effective deployment of safety/compliance/governance standards across GSKs Consumer Healthcare business which included: Sensodyne, ProNamel, Biotene, Parodontax, and Aquafresh in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As the Director of Clinical Affairs for Premier Dental Products, Dr. DiMarino coordinated product launch strategies, sales team and dealer representative training, led their key opinion leader (KOL) engagement program, and participated in new product development. Dr. DiMarino is also a patented inventor, trainer, educator, publisher, and lecturer having presented across the USA, Japan, Germany, London, Poland, Mexico, and Finland. International speaker, clinical dentist, inventor, researcher, former National Dental Insurance Director, claims/coding specialist, and an AADC Certified Dental Consultant.
Tiffany Wesley, FAADOM
As the Integrator at Practice Booster and Dental Zing, Tiffany works hand in hand with the team to create results through organizational transparency, crossdepartment integration, communication, and consistency. She oversees content creation, serves as a contributor/editor for the Confidence series publications, and is a main contributor and curriculum creator for Practice Booster training programs.
Tiffany also serves as a Practice Booster Advisor and Speaker empowering dental teams with confidence in insurance administration and dental coding. She began her journey in dentistry in 2004 and is the Founder and CEO of Elevation Dental Consulting, LLC as well as a Robbins-Madanes Trained Coach in Strategic Intervention. Tiffany is a Fellow of the American Association of Dental Office Management and a member of the AADOM Speaker/ Consultant Alliance and Speaking Consulting Network.
Dental Coding With Confidence: Get Paid More!
Speakers: Jim DiMarino & Tiffany Wesley, FAADOM
If you’ve ever wondered “Did we code that right?” after sending a claim, or felt the frustration of preventable denials and write-offs, you’re not alone. Dr. Jim DiMarino and Tiffany Wesley are here to bring clarity on what insurance companies actually need to approve your claims quickly, and to break down the most confusing 2026 CDT code changes impacting your bottom line.
As an office manager, you are the last line of defense against lost revenue. This course empowers you to stop second-guessing, code with confidence, and even have a little fun along the way.
Because when you code with confidence, you protect your practice, your team, and your bottom line. And let’s face it, Confidence Looks Good On You!
Dental Coding With Confidence: Get Paid More!
Presenters: Jim DiMarino & Tiffany Wesley, FAADOM
Course Description:
If you’ve ever wondered “Did we code that right?” after sending a claim, or felt the frustration of preventable denials and write-offs, you’re not alone. Dr. Jim DiMarino and Tiffany Wesley are here to bring clarity on what insurance companies actually need to approve your claims quickly, and to break down the most confusing 2026 CDT code changes impacting your bottom line.
As an office manager, you are the last line of defense against lost revenue. This course empowers you to stop second-guessing, code with confidence, and even have a little fun along the way.
Because when you code with confidence, you protect your practice, your team, and your bottom line. And let’s face it, Confidence Looks Good On You!
Course Learning Objectives:
- Understand and apply the most relevant 2026 CDT code changes
- Gain clarity on common documentation gaps before they lead to denials
- Create better communication between your business and clinical teams for better claims
- Define and fix workflow inefficiencies that slow down insurance collections
- Learn how simple and effective billing processes help you Get Paid More!
Brought to you by eAssist Dental Solutions