← Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
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- [00:00]
A
Hello, this is Cameron Cortegiano with the beckers Dental and DSO Review podcast. I'm thrilled to be joined today by Dr. Angelle Tucker, Practice owner and clinical director @ Aspen Dental. Dr. Tucker, thank you so much for being here today.
- [00:14]
B
Yeah, thank you for having me.
- [00:15]
A
And then just to start us off, can you just introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background?
- [00:20]
B
So once again, my name is Anchelle Tucker. I am a multi practice owner here in Virginia. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and I joined Aspen dental back in 2022 in Auburn, Massachusetts. Quickly became a clinical director in Worcester, Massachusetts. I've moved to Arizona with Aspen and now I'm here in Virginia and I am enjoying every bit of it.
- [00:49]
A
Awesome. Thank you so much for that. First question today is just what are some of the biggest issues that you're following in the dental industry so far in 2025? I know we're seems crazy, but coming up on, on the end of the.
- [01:02]
B
Year almost, I know the year is flying. A few things that I'm noticing and I don't want to completely call them issues. Right. It's just a very fast integration of technology. We're evolving and advancing at a rate that it's, it can be difficult for certain practices to keep up with. I've had a lot of new patients like BL by the technologies that we have in the office. So I think that's one of the major things like when it comes to intraoral scanning and the digital dentures that we do and sometimes it seems like we're just out of space for them. It's just like, well, what is this? I've never seen this before. Which is, which is really cool. And then I would say another thing that we notice quite a bit in our office is, you know, as things evolve and technology is constantly advancing, people still want like quality of care. They're, they're on the Internet, they're saying all these things and they have very high expectations. So I think when they come, they really want a one stop shop. Like they, they don't want to be referred out for things. Which is awesome because we do have an endodontist on site, we do have an oral surgeon on site, but they're being referred in for those things and then they just end staying because they don't want to be moved around so much. It's like, oh, I can come here, I can get my dentures, I can get my implants, I can see the oral surgeon, I can see the endodontist. So I think that's just something new that I'm noticing. People want everything in one place as well.
- [02:48]
A
Yeah, I think that kind of all in one shop dental practice has definitely become a lot more prominent, at least from what I've been seeing in the past couple of years. Something that I'm curious to get your thoughts on or what are some things that you're most excited about when it comes to dentistry right now? And what are some things that are making you maybe a little bit nervous?
- [03:09]
B
Well, I'm excited about mentorship always. I think it's so important. I had people when I first joined the profession and even still that really pour into me and make sure that I understand, you know, the, and I don't want to call it old school, but like the old school way of doing things and, and just really making sure that I, I'm understanding the business and understanding quality patient care. So I think that it's important that we always reach back and, and guide those coming in under us. So I'm very excited about that. I just hired a new doc and like just sharing the knowledge that I have with her is, has been a lot of fun and just seeing her kind of be a sponge and absorb these things. So I think that's always exciting just watching the new classes come in and, and being able to, to pass certain things down. One thing that I am nervous about, if I'm being honest, I would say we're in the age of like just misinformation, right? We have the Internet, everybody has Dr. Google, we've all seen on Facebook where there are these magical mouth rinses and, you know, things of that nature. They're selling stuff online that the people can glue into their mouths. So that's one thing that makes me nervous because they've made, you know, certain parts of dentistry just accessible by going online, buying certain things and it can be a little dangerous for the patient. So, you know, as people have more access to the Internet, I'm definitely seeing a lot more of that instead of relying more so on their dental professionals.
- [04:53]
A
Yeah, I think that's really interesting and something that probably is going to continue, especially with AI and just the Internet in general, just continuing to have more access and information and all that kind of things.
- [05:06]
B
Yeah, definitely.
- [05:07]
A
I know that Aspen has a pretty in depth and expansive mentorship program. What are some of the things that you've learned through being a mentor at Aspen that you've been able to apply like in your practices?
- [05:22]
B
I would say how to communicate effectively with patients and Just have more compassion for a situation like really listening and giving the patient exactly what they need. Sometimes we can't give people what they want, but we're here to give them what they need and poor love and just show them respect and the respect of listening to them. I think that was passed down to me and just seeing my mentor do that and kind of really sit down with a patient and just, you know, be an ear, be a shoulder. So that's a huge one. And then just once again providing that quality care, like learning how to, you know, enhance my clinical skills, going to implant training through Aspen, going to surgical trainings through Aspen, even like Clear Line, doing my orthodontic training with motto through Aspen. So those people who taught those classes, they've also been mentors to me and now I'm able to pass that information along and also send my associate to those trainings. So, yeah, Aspen has been amazing as far as mentorship on both the clinical side and just the patient care side.
- [06:43]
A
Got it. Awesome.
- [06:44]
B
Yeah.
- [06:45]
A
And then just the last question that we have for today is, in your view, what will the most effective health care leaders need in order to be successful over the next two to three years?
- [06:56]
B
I have a couple things. I think one thing that we kind of touched on earlier is just really being an early adopter of the technologies. You're going to have to roll with the punches. You're going to have to just constantly go to those CE courses and keep improving and moving with the times in order to better ourselves as clinicians and being effective healthcare leaders. And I think the second thing I also touched on is mentorship. You have to pour into the people coming behind you and sit back and watch them and help guide them. And it really does protect the profession long term. So I think we're just really going to have to reach back and continue to reach back and educate each other and educate the people coming behind us.
- [07:45]
A
Awesome. Thank you so much. And thank you for Joining us today, Dr. Tucker, and sharing your valuable expertise and insights into the dental space and dental industry. It's been a pleasure speaking with you today and I look forward to connecting with you again in the future.
- [08:01]
B
Yeah, of course. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.