Open Wide Podcast

Episode 54 - Conversation with Tina Saw | Oral Genome

Scott and Jinesh chat with Dr. Tina Saw, founder and CEO of Oral Genome. Oral Genome is biotechnology company focused on saliva-based testing for oral health. Tina discusses the development of the Oral Genome test, the specifics of the test, and its implications for preventative care. Tina shares her passion for integrating dentistry and medicine, and explains medicine as an avenue for growth of her company. Throughout the episode Tina, Scott, and Jinesh all reflect on some of the challenges of entrepreneurship.
 
1:42 Introducing Tina Saw
3:07 Tina's journey from music to dentistry
7:22 Leaving the dental op
12:05 The Oral Genome test
16:47 Production complexity
20:21 ADA investment
22:52 Code created for Oral Genome testing, and impact on care coverage
27:05 R&D
34:50 Go-to-market and early adopters
40:30 Expanding into medicine and oral-systemic connection
45:23 Reflections on entrepreneurship 

Episode 53 - Business Updates from Scott and Jinesh

Scott and Jinesh discuss their respective business updates.
 
2:40 Jinesh Updates: Growth from relationship with National Facilities Direct; Industry partnerships teaser
 
12:43 Scott's new business 

Episode 52 - Dentalcorp Going Private, 'MAGA Dentist' Backlash

Scott and Jinesh discuss the recent announcement that Chicago-based Private Equity group GTCR is taking Canada's largest DSO Dentalcorp private (and paying a premium for it). They also chat about the backlash to the politically-charged comment / joke from the California-based 'MAGA Dentist', and the possible trademark / IP implications of dental practices in different states with the same name. 
 
2:02 PE firm GTCR to take Dentalcorp (Canada's largest DSO) private
15:48 'MAGA Dentist' backlash

Episode 51 - Conversation with Samantha Strain | HealthStream Ventures

Scott and Jinesh chat with Samantha Strain, Partner and CDO and HealthStream Ventures and Cofounder of DoubleMint about all things M&A in the dental space. They discuss Sam's journey from distributor regional rep to healthcare lending to facilitating the purchase of dental practices. Sam shares her thoughts on the market opportunity from the buy side perspective, and then dives deep on changes in the dental practice market over the past 5 years, and the change in mentality of both sellers and buyers.  Sam wraps by sharing about her venture investing activity, and impressive female founders in the dental tech space. 
 
2:24 Introducing Sam Strain
4:15 Sam's journey through dental
19:58 Early relationships mature to BD opportunity
26:21 Low-hanging opportunity in dental practices
29:44 Dentists don't learn business and management in school
34:18 Change in the dental practice market in the past 5 years
39:05 DSOs going public?
44:34 Venture investing via DoubleMint
54:12 Female founders in dental
 

Episode 50 - Conversation with Matt Ingram | Marketing to Dentists

Scott and Jinesh chat with Matt Ingram about his career in dental marketing and media. Matt explains how the space has changed over the last 15 years and comments on some of the high-level marketing strategies he's seen play out. He recounts some of the best and worst he's seen over the years, and discusses the massive opportunity that currently exists in the world of marketing to dentists. 
 
2:33 Introducing Matt Ingram
7:18 Mechanics of marketing to dentists
10:44 Do print ads still work?
18:44 Marketing strategies across dental
23:04 Best and worst marketing tactics
28:15 Marketing on a shoestring budget
31:19 The untapped data opportunity
32:51 Influencer marketing in dental
52:10 Promotional products advertising
 

Episode 49 - Epic's AI Transcription Announcement, Vyne vs Henry Schein

Scott and Jinesh chat about Epic's recent announcement that they're releasing their own native AI transcription tool to be bundled into their software, and Henry Schein announces they'll be restricting connectivity that Vyne has used to transfer data for insurance claims submissions. 
 
1. Epic's AI announcement 2:18
2. Vyne vs Henry Schein 12:52

Episode 48 - Conversation with Marv Nelson | A-dec

Scott and Jinesh chat with Marv Nelson, CEO of A-dec. They discuss A-dec's history, culture, and philosophy. Marv discusses the impact of COVID, A-dec's supply chain, and the impact of tariffs (or lack thereof) on A-dec. Marv shares his thoughts around price positioning, equipment servicing, DSO strategy, and dealer relationships.
 
3:05 Introducing Marv Nelson
5:29 Marv's path to dental
9:01 History of A-dec
11:35 A-dec's philosophy and culture
21:30 Navigating COVID
23:37 Supply Chain and impact of tariffs
27:35 Pricing strategy
30:16 A-dec's tech upgrade 
38:16 Thoughts around equipment servicing
45:51 Dealer relationships
48:14 DSO strategy
51:22 Odd customer requests
54:59 Dealer relationships part 2

Episode 47 - Dental Medicaid Coverage at Risk, Insurance Company buys a DSO

Scott and Jinesh chat about the recent increased risk to dental coverage via Medicaid nationwide, as well as the recent acquisition of the DSO Cherry Tree Dental by Delta Dental of Wisconsin.
1:59 Dental coverage at risk
8:50 Delta Dental of Wisconsin buys DSO Cherry Tree Dental