VC: The Changing of Very Clinical Minds

The hosts of The Very Clinical Podcast — Zach Miners, Kevin, and guest Dr. Alan Mead — dive into a candid, revealing conversation about pivotal shifts in their clinical dentistry practices. The central theme? What they wish they’d known earlier, and how their minds evolved over years of experience. Dr. Mead reveals he now avoids subgingival margins unless absolutely necessary, favoring equigingival placements for better tissue health and easier impressioning — a shift driven by modern materials and digital workflows. Kevin shares his 25-year journey from fearing implant placement to embracing it as a transformative practice upgrade, crediting a pivotal text from T-Bone and the life-changing impact of acquiring a cone beam CT. He also admits he once resisted using surgical handpieces for extractions, but now sees them as essential for atraumatic, predictable outcomes. The trio collectively champion moving toward indirect restorations sooner — not as a last resort, but as a standard of care — and celebrate the digital revolution, with Zach admitting he once dismissed CEREC as 'crappy' but now calls it 'hot sex' in workflow efficiency. The episode is a masterclass in professional evolution, where humility, technology, and patient-centered care converge. The most striking takeaway? That the best dentistry isn’t about perfection — it’s about adaptability.