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Navigating Motherhood and Dentistry: Challenges and Growth with Dr. Meredith Gantos
7 Plays38 minutes ago
About the Guest:
Dr. Meredith Gantos is a distinguished dental practice owner and an experienced dentist known for her innovative approach in integrating modern technologies and fostering a positive workplace culture. With extensive professional experience, Dr. Gantos has successfully transitioned her small dental practice into a thriving establishment. Her commitment to creating a supportive team environment and exploring new frontiers in dental care make her a respected figure in the industry.
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode of "Beyond Graduation," dental practice owner and industry leader Dr. Meredith Gantos shares her journey from new practice ownership to developing a successful, modern dental office. The conversation, hosted by Dr. Savanah Craig and Dr. Ronnetta Sartor, delves into the challenges and triumphs of balancing career and motherhood, offering invaluable insights into becoming a practice owner. Notably, Gantos emphasizes the significance of building a strong team, adapting to technological advances, and establishing a nurturing workplace culture.
Listeners will enjoy a candid discussion highlighting the complexities of family life intersecting with career ambitions, as Dr. Gantos recounts her personal experiences with motherhood and dental practice management. She underscores the importance of learning from challenges and continuously pushing the envelope of professional development. Incorporating insightful keywords, Dr. Gantos advises on practice ownership strategies, the importance of innovation in dentistry, and her own technique of fostering honest, open communication with her team to enhance productivity and workplace satisfaction.
Key Takeaways:
- Balancing Motherhood and Career: Meredith Gantos shares the challenges of being a new mother while managing a dental practice, highlighting the need for adaptability and a supportive team.
- Building a Strong Team: Emphasizing the importance of finding the right team members, Gantos discusses how a solid team dynamic is essential for the smooth functioning of any practice.
- Continuous Learning: Gantos stresses the need to stay curious and continually seek knowledge about new advancements in dentistry to enhance practice efficiency and patient care.
- Workplace Culture: Creating a positive workplace culture by setting clear boundaries, maintaining professionalism, and ensuring effective communication are focal points.
- Practice Management Wisdom: Sharing practical tips on managing the business side of dentistry, including handling finances and upcoming build-outs, Gantos offers insights into the evolving role of the dentist as a practice owner.
Connect with Us:
- Savanah Craig, DDS: @savanahcraigdds
- Ronnetta Sartor, DMD: @dr_sartor
- Dr. Meredith Gantos: @gantosdentalgroup and drgantos@gantosdentalgroup.com
- FutureDentists Beyond Graduation: @futuredentistsbeyondgraduation
- IgniteDDS: @ignitedds and @ignitedds_coaching
- A-dec: @adecdental and https://www.a-dec.com/find-a-dealer
Dive into this insightful episode for an honest conversation filled with practical advice and personal anecdotes that bridge the professional and personal aspects of life in dental practice ownership. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from the "Beyond Graduation" series.
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Transcript
Owning Mistakes and Dealing with Consequences
00:00:00
Speaker
You cannot be the fixer of everyone's mistakes. People have to own their mistakes and just deal with the consequences. It is the greatest joy and the greatest like challenge in the universe.
ADEC's Program for First-Time Practice Owners
00:00:14
Speaker
ADEC's Smart Start program offers first-time practice owners their deepest discounts on equipment and furniture sure for two years, plus other savings and complimentary services. Ask your ADEC rep for details and start smart with ADEC.
Forging Career Paths in Early Stages
00:00:27
Speaker
Join Drs. Savannah Craig and Renetta Sartor as we navigate life beyond graduation. Real conversations about forging our own paths in our early years in our careers.
00:00:38
Speaker
There's a reason it's called practicing
Motherhood: Joys and Challenges
00:00:40
Speaker
dentistry. So speaking of other parts of life that are wild, you have recently entered motherhood. Tell us have tell us this journey and lay it all on light on the table.
00:00:52
Speaker
Yes. So infinitely harder than what it looks like. You'll never appreciate your mom more than becoming a mom. Like I literally cannot apologize it enough for ages like 11 to 18. I don't know. I'm so sorry. i wasn't me. Like i just, it is the greatest joy And to the greatest like challenge in the universe. I mean, people talk about it, but they just don't talk about it enough. Like need more moms complaining. I needed more moms like pulling me by the shirt, like coming close. Let me tell you, like, you know what I mean? Like, listen, you're going to like, just be not, you're going to be a shell of a human for a very long time. And then sometime it'll click. still waiting for the clicking
Dental Concerns in Newborns
00:01:40
Speaker
part. but How old is your little one? She's four months and a couple days.
00:01:45
Speaker
Okay. So she's just a little piddle. But without like going too far down this rabbit hole, she had – okay. So of course, you know, I'm a dentist. So she's born and the first thing i look at is do you have a lip tie? Yeah. Yes. Even though I'm not like, I'm not the, I'm the referral person for airway. Like yeah screen for stuff. I don't treat it. I'm ref referring that stuff. Right. And I don't do tons of peds, but of course that's like the first thing I'm at. I'm like, let me look at your lip child. So she comes out of me. First thing I see is her lip tie. And I'm like, she's got a lip tie. And I know my husband's mouth and this man has
00:02:18
Speaker
All the things, right? Like high vaulted palate, sleep apnea. So that's why I was like so on high alert with her. so I'm like, crap, you've got your father's genes. So comes out. And so we did tantai lip revision when she was six weeks old. I didn't do it, but I had another dentist do it.
00:02:37
Speaker
Yeah. So I don't know about you, but I, maybe because I don't do it and I just refer for these things, I was very idealistic about this whole experience. My understanding is like, we laser it.
00:02:49
Speaker
She's happy. She feeds well. All is good. That has not been the journey that I was personally on. Not to say that's not what other people's journey has been on, yeah but ours resulted in like, hey, hey, in like, I mean, we're still like seeing feeding specialists. We're still like not gaining weight. Like we're still – we have more compounding issues post-release than we did pre-release. So that's also made things lot of a challenge because, you know, we're just working on her oral motor skills, her feeding and things like that.
Impact of Motherhood on Relationships
00:03:25
Speaker
But it is just – it's like an experience unlike any other. i mean, i think especially for like the woman because – least from everybody that I've talked to because the other thing people don't warn you about is like how much you're going to hate your spouse. I'm literally – I was literally Googling. Like is it postpartum to like hate your spouse or is this just like – Is this Is this a normal amount of hate or is this like extra hate? But then I talked to enough people and like patients and things. So was like, okay, good. We all hate them, right? Like we all despise this person. But it's like all of a sudden it like clicks for you as like the mom, right? Like your entire life is like caring for this human. You're just like being the sacrificial lamb. You're doing all the things. Meanwhile, like –
00:04:11
Speaker
you know, depending on who your spouse is, they're like, I'm going to the gym. See ya. And I'm just like, enjoy the gym. Like haven't had a shower in weeks. Yeah. You know? Yeah. Just like all the like BS where like I literally am like this child's nourishment and their source of comfort. I'm the, I'm the everything here. Like my whole life is uprooted. Meanwhile, like everyone around you is still like functioning yeah the same.
00:04:33
Speaker
So it's crazy. I will say from a practice ownership standpoint or like a dental standpoint, you know, again, like I was trying to find like the blessing and everything, the teachable moment and
Balancing Professional Life and Motherhood
00:04:44
Speaker
stuff. I feel like for me, one of the things that I was very aware of going into it that I think is really helpful or really good is that I'm always the like fixer of things.
00:04:56
Speaker
And I'm always the like cleanup duty. Right. So if it's like, OK, like we have very good systems and protocols in place. But if there's something where I'm like, I know this person always forgets to do this properly or I know this always gets missed.
00:05:08
Speaker
I just would always do the thing. Right. Because that's you just kind of keep the ship moving. Right. And you also have to pick your battles to a certain degree. We were literally just having this conversation earlier today. So this is. Yeah. I think.
00:05:19
Speaker
This whole conversation, you must have, like, been hearing everything we were talking about. Have you been talking to therapist? But you know how it is. It's like, okay, like, you have to do it or it's not going to get done. So at the end day, like, you're going to do it, right? Like, if the assistant forgets to, like, always make the lab case in the computer or whatever, right, to track it, like...
00:05:40
Speaker
Okay, like you can only tell people so many times, you can only have it on so many checklists. Like at a certain point, you're just like, I'm just going to do it because have to get done. Well, when you're out on maternity leave, like you're not there to be that person. So it definitely, you know, shook things up, had some different challenges and still has some different challenges. But it was a good thing of like,
00:06:00
Speaker
you have to be able to step back. Like you cannot be the fixer of everyone's BS. Like yeah it there reaches a point where this is it. Like people have to own their mistakes and you to certain degree, sometimes have to let people make those mistakes and just deal with the consequences. Right. And so this very much forced me to, to do that and to have to step back. Like I literally cannot be there to do all the things like you guys have to function. Yeah.
00:06:29
Speaker
so Do you feel like it's helped your team to rise to the
Team Dynamics and Growth During Absence
00:06:32
Speaker
occasion? I think so. I would say, and and again, i will say I'm very blessed with, I have a hard time finding, i have like one phenomenal admin.
00:06:42
Speaker
I'm still having a hard time, I think, finding my ride or die admins. The rest of like my clinical team, I would fall on the sword for these people. Like I would take a bullet for them. yeah And I would also like kill someone if they tried to steal them because they're just, they're phenomenal. They're phenomenal clinicians. They're phenomenal human beings. yeah So I honestly feel like, like when I say like I pick stuff up, it's not that they couldn't or that they weren't able to. It's I think to a certain degree, they have a lot on their plates. I understand that. I'm grateful for what they do. So it's not so much like, you know, I'm irritated doing it. It was more just, hey, it just makes everything move faster.
00:07:20
Speaker
Why tell you the same thing 1400 times? If you're not doing it, I'm not assuming it's because you're a jerk, you don't care. You're just doing a lot of stuff. so Totally. You know, so all that to say that, yes, I do feel like they rose to the occasion, but I think they always would have. It was just more me using kid gloves with people when I probably just should have more been like, okay, like, no, you you got this. You do it. And if you don't, like, you deal with the consequences, right? So, yeah. And honestly, they're they're lovely. Like, literally one of my assistants – Like this is the level of humility and just sweetness. I literally gave her a raise at the beginning of this year. And she literally messaged to me and was just like, oh, doctor, I don't deserve this. I make too many mistakes. Like I just I'm not deserving of this. yeah And I was like, you're like the most deserving of. Firstly, can't even think of one mistake you've made. So if you do, you do a really good job of hiding them and keep hiding them because they're not impacting me. but Like, like literally like that's the kind of people I work with where it's just like, you saying no, you definitely deserve this and more like you should be paid a million dollars if I had it.
00:08:27
Speaker
yeah Yeah. So, you know, it, yes, I will say, but will also say it took me years and years and years to find these people. I did not have those people three years into practice. I didn't have those people for a very long time. It's the journey um,
00:08:45
Speaker
Finding your tribe is the hardest
Leadership Growth and Setting Boundaries
00:08:48
Speaker
part. Like making the culture, finding your tribe, it's really hard. And in all fairness, I was not the same leader i am now than I was then. and a lot of it is reflective of that. Like it wasn't so much even just the people. it was how I managed them. That's how I led them. It was what I – how I, you know, it's hard, it's hard, right? Because, you know, like you maybe can balance like professional and personal and like really seamlessly, but other people can't always do that. And so if you're there kicking with people and eating lunch with them and, you know, being really invested with people, like you may be able to understand that boundaries, but you can really muddy those waters. And for me, I really struggled with that because i do,
00:09:31
Speaker
love people. I want to have fun at work. Like part of wanting to have my own practice is I had some really bad bosses in the past at other jobs and I didn't want that. Right. And I, at the end of the day, like I think work-life balance is important. Like, you know, I don't need people living to work. We work to live. So I'm, I'm totally fine with somewhat of like a relaxed, friendly, fun mentality. Like you want that, but you still have to get the job done. And not everybody understands that delicate balance. And that's where things can be a struggle. And it took me way too long to understand that and be able to do that, honestly.
00:10:13
Speaker
What tips would you have for dentists out there that are struggling with muddying the waters and setting boundaries, but also, like you said, you want it to be a fun atmosphere culture, but also having your team know that, okay, it's a job that needs to be done and we need to get it done?
00:10:35
Speaker
Sure. I think that it is a very delicate balance. One thing that someone told me that I think was very good advice is don't eat lunch with your team because I always ate lunch with my team.
00:10:50
Speaker
And, you know, when you when you do, you know, it's just like a different vibe and you're doing all the things. When I stopped doing that, I do feel like it did make an invisible type of separation that was good in a certain sense. because it's like – and it's not that – I mean, I still know all their kids' names. I still i still go to kids – I mean, I go to you know their track meets. Like, I'll do this. And like, I still love them and their families. Yeah. Right? But something about that separation did help.
00:11:22
Speaker
um And that was one of the easiest, quickest ways of doing it, right, is that separation. So I think that definitely helped. And I think that having like structured time for that kind of engagement and fellowship is helpful too. So like having set time outside of the office where we're all going to go to a pottery place and paint. Or most recently we went to like a little plant place and made like little – what do you call those things? But, you know, like plant terrariums, right? Terrariums. Yeah. Like whatever. Like having actually scheduled, coordinated, this is our fellowship time to like relax and have fun and chill. Versus like trying to fit that in on the job and do it all at once. And so like when I'm at work, I'm in my office. I'm not like if there's spare time or downtime, I'm not just like chilling, chatting with people. You know, I'm being productive. I'm doing things.
00:12:21
Speaker
And again, like one of the biggest ones was really honestly just like not eating lunch and having that sort of like break room mentality, i think was very helpful. Also too, you know, I'm very, and I think everybody has their own style. And again, everybody's style works for them. Like I'm very much, I'm very honest and forthright with people. And I set that from like the very, very beginning stage, sometimes the interview stage, but if not the interview stage, like day one of just, hey, listen,
00:12:50
Speaker
Like, I'm a really honest person. i don't like anything passive aggressive. So you're always going to know how I feel, whether that's good or bad. Like, I'm going to communicate it honestly with you. So if there's something that I feel like I need to discuss with you, i will absolutely discuss it with you.
00:13:08
Speaker
But also like, if something's not an issue, don't internalize it. Don't second guess it. Don't think you're trying to read my mind. If I'm not talking to you about it, it's not an issue. So please don't dwell on that. Because I find a lot of people do that too, right? It's like, okay, maybe they didn't have something set up properly or whatever. And I'm like, hey, like, where's this or what's that?
00:13:30
Speaker
Right? And then all of a sudden, people are like spiraling. They're like, oh, she thinks I'm so dumb. She thinks I don't know how to do this. Like, oh, this is such a problem and da-da-da-da. And it's like, actually, don't think that. I just want to keep moving on with my day. But I also am not the person or have the luxury or the time to be like, hey, honey, sweetie boo-boo. Like, okay, so, you know, da-da-da-da. Like, it's just like I just want to i want to work. I want to get through my day, right? So if it's like, hey, you know, please in the future, just make sure when you're setting up for implants that you have, you know, the prescription ready to go in the scanner just makes life easy, right? Mm-hmm. Like, I want to say it like that. And then I want to go see my next patient. I dont want to sit there and like, you know, if you need help with that, let me know. I'm happy to help you with it. Like whatever it is. Right. Like I just, so I just set that up front so people know. And then again, they're not internalizing. If I, I don't think you're dumb. I don't think you're incapable. I don't not want you on my team. If that was the case, I would talk to you. Right. yeah And then, and then I, I own it and I do that stuff. Right. So if there is something that I'm concerned about, right. If I need to have like you know, I'll call like my come to Jesus moment. If I need to have a come to Jesus, like I will have it also, right? We're all, but I'll have it at an appropriate time, not with a patient in a chair getting haughty, not whatever, not even to, I will say if someone's already having a bad day and they're underperforming, I'm not going to get to the end the day and just also poop on them, right? Like, you know, I have bad days, everybody has bad days, right? Or things happen, but a I will address it at the right time
00:15:00
Speaker
in the right way.
Firing to Protect Team and Culture
00:15:01
Speaker
And I think because I do that, then people can trust that I mean that. And it's not just words. Wow. There was so much there. But I think the the part that I took away from that is if you are honest and upfront, it actually – I, Renat and I talk like, I'm very conflict avoidant. And you've just in this conversation reframed it for me of like, that's not necessarily conflict. That's honesty. And like, that's actually kind because then they're not ever second guessing. Like you said that, that I have different intent. It's if I can have those conversations in all of those ways, it, it only strengthens that relationship to know that
00:15:40
Speaker
no, I'm not actually mad at you. Like I hit my elbow off the door on my way in because I don't know where my body is in space or like, you know, yeah my cat threw up on my shoe this morning. Like.
00:15:51
Speaker
Well, even think about the relationships you have that you value, right? Like your best friend is so honest with you. Like that's a person that's going to tell you like, like your friends are the people that like whatever vibe you're on, they're going to vibe with you, right? Like they're like, yes, girl, he sucks. Like, like you know, like whatever, right? But like your best friend is the one that's going to look you and be like, no, you're overreacting. Like that was not that big a deal, honey. Like he he missed your call for one minute. He was working. It's okay. Like, you know what I mean? yeah It's like yeah the relationships we value most and are –
00:16:24
Speaker
are the deepest, but they're the ones where we can be our most genuine self and other people are comfortable to be their most genuine self. Right. And it just works so much better that way. But not only that, it's just so much more comfortable. Like, I don't want to walk into, cause I've been there, right? Like, yeah I don't want to walk into my office and be like squeezing my butt cheeks, you know, like, like, like I have to walk by this person or I'm going to have to interact with this person. Like nobody wants that. Like you just want to be like,
00:16:51
Speaker
You know? So true. It's just – it's so true though. Like who wants to work in that environment? I don't – and I don't want that for other people. And if it gets to that place, then again, that's where it's like people come into your life and people also exit your life at the right time. Like if it we're just – Not in sync the way we need to be. Like, doesn't make you a bad person. Doesn't make me a bad person. It's just like this dynamic doesn't work for us anymore. And that's okay. You know, being in ownership, I used to like having to fire people used to be... Oh, my God. I would lose so much sleep. I would stew. I was like a hot mess. And it could even be like the worst person. Like I literally had one team member one time who organized an event.
00:17:40
Speaker
it It was a two-day event. Organized it and then like showed up like an hour late the second day and tried to tell me it's because she didn't know where the parking lot was. Even though she came the day before. Like, just, like, dumb stuff, right? Like, she was just, like, a – she just didn't care. She was just, like, not a good team member. Like, yeah she shouldn't have been on the team. yeah Like, I remember even, like, terminating her when she gave me, like, 400 reasons to do It was just, like, oh, I feel so bad, right? Yeah.
00:18:03
Speaker
But when your mentality shifts and it's less about like – it's nothing personal. Like I'm not targeting this person. They're not targeting me, right? When your mentality becomes I have a culture, i have a team of high performers that I have to protect, right? Yeah.
00:18:21
Speaker
It's so different. And like as sick as it sounds, like I love firing people now because if I fire someone, it's like I'm being mama bear. Like that assistant I told you about, she deserves nothing but the best teammates, right? And all of my teammates are like that.
00:18:36
Speaker
They're phenomenal people. They don't deserve – Anyone that's going to come in and not give the same love and dedication that they provide. And so then it becomes really easy to be like, hey, like, you're great.
00:18:50
Speaker
It's just probably not a good fit, like for what we're looking for. Like, it's just not a good fit with our overall dynamic. But like, you're wonderful. If you need anything, anything let me know, you know. This device that I'm on that my headphones plugged into is about to die. So I'm going to sign in with a different device, but I don't have the headphones. I'm so sorry. i hope that doesn't mess anything up with your audio quality.
Practice Expansion and Financial Decisions
00:19:09
Speaker
You're good. Sorry. Sorry.
00:19:10
Speaker
You're good. Let me. to i thought that thing was charged, but apparently that died much quicker than I was thinking. so sorry. You are fine. it actually doesn't sound bad on our end. Okay. Sounds good to you, Savannah.
00:19:22
Speaker
Yeah, no, everything looks good. Okay. great I did want to pivot a little bit to kind of talk about, we talked about the journey from, you know, the first practice to the build out. And so I love to hear about that whole journey in your journey with ADAC and, you know, all the things.
00:19:43
Speaker
Yeah. So the first office I bought was a thousand square feet. It did not have a straight wall in it at all. Like snakeskin wallpaper, green carpeting. where he told you about the cactus. I'm just trying to paint the picture for you. The patient bathroom, I'm pretty sure was like maybe a dark room or something. The patient bathroom was so small. It was like an airplane bathroom, but it was so small that you would have to sit sideways on the toilet. Like your knees couldn't, like it was...
00:20:12
Speaker
Which was honestly one of the funniest things because when we did the new build out, every team member, every patient, they were all just like the bathroom. I'm like, I know, but there's other things, guys. Like, what about the rest of it? Everybody, it was so funny. Everybody would just come in and be like, this bathroom is glorious. It's like, I know, but like, there's other nice things. Yeah.
00:20:36
Speaker
So it was not hard to, you know, upgrade. We didn't even have room for like a pano, CBCT, any of that kind of stuff. It was so small. And that's also too, to be honest with you, why I ate lunch with my team and got in that habit was because we didn't have a break room. I had an office. That's where everybody ate lunch. Like there was nowhere else to do it. Right. So they would just like sit across from me at my office, eat lunch. I'd eat lunch and we'd, you know,
00:21:01
Speaker
be delinquents together. So I spent three years at that practice. There was four years. there was it was a five-year lease. But in my purchase, I made him buy out the fifth year. So there was only four years because what I basically told myself is, I'm going to try this for three years. If it works, then I'll transition to the new office. And if it doesn't, then I'll say, cool, tried it. Like no harm, no foul, like pivot. Right. So I wanted to, so I practiced for three years. i left the fourth year vacant because I didn't necessarily want another dentist to like also come into that space right away. And since it's already flumbed and stuff. So
00:21:42
Speaker
By the third year in you know, I was fortunate in that there was a lot of dentistry to be done in the practice. So that's kind of the good thing about a situation like yours as well, right? Like it's hard because like the attrition of patients, I mean, I probably lost 75% of all the patients. I mean, truly lost so many of the patients and But the ones that stayed had so much genuine dental needs that I was still doubling his production like every month from pretty much day one. But probably just taking the x-rays, quite frankly, just taking x-rays. That was probably like an extra, you know, who knows. But so it was profitable from the beginning, which was fortunate. And again, you know, i i lived within my means. I was...
00:22:32
Speaker
savvy when it came to that kind of stuff. So, so after the three years, then went back to the bank, took out a nice big loan again and did the new build out. So that was super fun. The contractor that I used was wonderful. I think that was a big part of it being such, I'm sure a positive experience is he was just a lovely human. um I still have a great relationship with him to this day. He had been working at another company and then he kind of split off to do his own company. And I was like one of like his kind of first offices. So I think he really, he had the time, he wasn't super busy.
00:23:11
Speaker
He had the drive, like he'd be in there own like Sundays working. um And also he wanted it to be spectacular because he wanted, you know, it was his showpiece. Like he would bring people to my office all the time afterwards to be like, you know, that was like what he would show off. And he became a very well-known builder around our area and didn't a lot so lot of beautiful offices. But so that helped really from an aesthetic level because I, the contractor one time brought flooring samples to our old office. was like, what flooring do you like? And my team at the time all like bombarded him with like all these opinions. It was like very overwhelming. I could tell he was like, this was a mistake. I'm never doing this again.
00:23:49
Speaker
And after that, never saw the guy again. i didn't even pick a paint color. He picked everything. I literally picked nothing, which I was fine with. I told him, I was like, listen, I'm focusing on this. Like, just make it, make it good. And he literally just like built my office. So that was, you know, very helpful. And then, you know, obviously getting to go to Oregon and see ADEC and see their facility and, really understand the difference. you know i think especially it's you know we're always balancing, right? Like you wanna be thrifty, you wanna make smart decisions.
00:24:23
Speaker
but not at the cost of your business and being able to function. So like for us, I mean, you guys know, like if you're down and up, like there's nothing worse than being down and up or having a compressor out or like there are certain things where you're like splurge a little. It's okay. yeah Like pay for the quality. yeah Right. And, you know, I'm glad that I had that mentality. And I certainly, I think did that. And because I work with a lot of anxious patients, I really like rear delivery for my units. So You know, we have everything set up in the back. That works really well for me and my workflow and how I work. I'm like three feet tall. So it's also very helpful because I stand a lot and it's just, it's just the right flow for me. So yeah, so was able to work with ADEC, work with their team and, you know, get everything just the way that I wanted it, right? We like the pass through x-rays, which I like. My team, I didn't think they would respond well to nomads. And, you know, I know that they like kind of, a wall-mounted x-ray unit. So we're able to do that.
00:25:25
Speaker
Obviously with ADEC, you know, everything's very modular, so you can really customize it, which also worked really well for us because my practice has really gone through like a lot of different changes and different things, meaning... Like when I first got in there, I was still the like one doctor with three employees. Right. So we had things organized maybe with trays or maybe like in one type of system.
00:25:49
Speaker
But then that practice also grew to a point where I had three additional associates and like 20 team members. And yeah that workflow looks totally different. Right. But yeah because everything is so customizable and in modular, you can, we were able to make everything always work. So it was like, okay, well now instead of this system, we want to do it like this or whatever. And so that was very helpful in being able to always kind of adapt to like what the practice would look like or, or you know, how we wanted things to be. And yeah, so it was overall a positive experience. i got my surgical suite, which was awesome. I will tell you when you're working in cramped quarters all the time,
00:26:28
Speaker
Okay, so my current office is only 2,000 square feet. But I swear to you, when you come from like the little nook to like an office like that, even though it's like not even that big, I was like tired walking up and down the hallways. Or I'd like run because it would like take me so long to get somewhere. it was like, I think about it now and I'm like, how comical that like, because I went from like two steps to like 20 and somehow those 20 were like, I'm coming, I'm coming. And I'm just like, oh my God, this is ridiculous. like And now, to be honest, now I've reached the point where I really have to consider, like, the next build-out and the next move. So I still rent. I didn't want to go into more debt and deal with that. Like, you know, I'm kind of like the baby step. So first I was like, let me get the practice right. Then I was like, let me get the practice right.
00:27:20
Speaker
Let me get the patience right. get the practice right. And now it's kind of like, now I'm at the point where I'm, you know, going to hit the 10-year mark on this lease. And it's kind of like, okay, well, now do I need to... get my big girl pants on, go back to the bank, take out the next loan and do the next chapter of like owning the real estate and kind of planning that. So that'll be kind of the next iteration. Yeah. We kind of was talking about this a little bit earlier, how when I bought the practice, I also bought the real estate with it too. That's awesome though. It is, but it's, it's nerve wracking too when it's time for that build out and you got to go to the bank and do that. yeah and you know how construction is,
00:28:00
Speaker
Yeah. It's, yeah, it's a headache. So it's, it's a lot, but you know what? You're smarter to do it now. i part of me wishes I had done it even the last time, because what am I doing? I mean, it's like renting house versus having equity in your home, right? Like I've paid so much in rent. I could have just done all the things, you know, and it's nice in that, you know, there's obviously different ways that you can have different tax incentives or different LLCs and stuff like that.
00:28:26
Speaker
You know, there's just so many different ways of doing things. Like, I don't do too much crazy stuff or play a whole lot of those games. But like, you know, Walmart has a whole separate LLC for their parking lot because 90% of their lawsuits happen in their parking lot. So they keep that super poor. So if anybody sees them, it's like, yeah, here's, sure, you can have 100% of zero, right? You know, so like...
00:28:50
Speaker
There are some really crafting smart ways. Like I remember my program director in residency telling us to have like a separate, I don't, again, I don't do this, but it's smart. yeah but Like have a separate LLC for like all of your equipment versus your patient charts. Because if someone were to be upset and litigate, it's like, you know, they can't. And coming after your actual like patient chart business, it's like, yeah, it's cash for, there's nothing in there. Sure.
00:29:12
Speaker
Have, have at it. Right. But again, when you have the real estate and you have the building, you have, Like you you do have different ways that you can protect yourself and your assets a lot more, which I think is nice in certain regards, right? But to your point, it's always a headache, right? More money, more problems, girl. Like, you know, and I don't know about you guys, but I definitely think too, like,
00:29:35
Speaker
you know, we're, dentists are typically like type A people. Like we're not exactly like the cowboys, the like entrepreneurial business people who like, you have to be okay with risk. You have to be okay with the debt. And like, I think for our personality types, it's like, it just feels so daunting. But the reality is, is to like be profitable and actually like make real money. Like you have to have debt. Like all these people, they all got debt. Like none of them are, know, all these like rich people and all these business people, it's all business debt. Right. yeah And so sometimes like just being comfortable with that is definitely hard. And I,
00:30:15
Speaker
Definitely understand that because that's, you know, that's part of the game, but it's definitely hard, I think, to be like, okay, I'm just going to be a million dollars in debt again. Like, sounds good. Like, all right. Yeah. seth All right. guess that's what we're doing now. So, yeah.
Self-Kindness and Dental Journey
00:30:31
Speaker
Meredith, this has been awesome and we want to be respectful of your time and not keep you from your baby for too long. but we have one sort of last question we like to ask our guests about. So if you had to tell your dental school self some advice, what would you go back and tell them? Yeah. So, I mean, there's so much I would say, but I think the most important thing is be kind to yourself, give yourself grace because, you know, we work so hard to get this degree, you're so focused, you're so just like myopic on the dentistry, especially in school, right? Like in school, if anything, isn't just absolutely perfect, it just like ruins your life, it ruins your day. You have all this just negative self-talk. You just think you're like the worst human. And then you get out in life and you realize that we are human. And as long as you're doing your best every day for everyone, you own mistakes if and when they happen, right? That
00:31:28
Speaker
it's okay, you know, and I think it's okay to give ourselves grace. I think it's okay to look at a bite-witted six months and be like, you know what? i actually don't love that. Can I redo that for you? Or just, you know, know that like some things are easier than others and like, that's all part of it and it's all okay.
00:31:46
Speaker
Everything is not the end of the world. Everything doesn't have to be a big deal. you You're going to enjoy your career and your life a lot more if you can do that. So like, let it go.
00:31:59
Speaker
the like obnoxious one star review that is totally bogus and makes no sense. Just like, let it be like, it doesn't matter, you know, Whatever it is. I think that that's probably like one of the most important things.
Curiosity and Technological Advancement
00:32:12
Speaker
The other thing I would say too, though, is I think it is really important to always stay curious, right? So it's very easy to get complacent. It's easy to kind of be like, oh, well, you know, I don't want to spend the time or money learning new things I'm already in. but I don't want to you know.
00:32:28
Speaker
take Take the time away or the money or whatever. And I think that it's really important for your practice health, for your mental health, for just the profession that everybody does advance and that you do learn and you don't get complacent. And just because you're like, well...
00:32:48
Speaker
this works for me. It's worked for me hundred years. Like this is how i'm going to always do it. Okay. But you know what I mean? Like push the um envelope a little, right? Like see, but like, you know, I guess the question would be like, but what if it could be better? Right. But what if you could do more? What if you could help more people? What if you could do it with better precision, better efficiency, right? right? And that's kind of one of the beautiful things about being a dentist in this age with the way the technology unfolds and the way things are.
00:33:15
Speaker
We have more treatment modalities than we've ever had, right? We have more opportunities to help other people to make the dentistry more accessible. um You know, i don't want to get too far down this rabbit hole because I know we're wrapping up, but like, that's the beauty of having like 3D printed materials and milled materials, right? Yeah. We don't have just the like...
00:33:38
Speaker
you know, key or Lexus anymore, right? Like, a Lexus. I should picked something than a Lexus, but you don't have, like, the Kia or the Lambo anymore, right? yeah Like, you have, like, a full grade of everything else in between, which is great. Like, so, you know, I mean, I've had patients where they've literally come in with a missing front tooth on a layover and we're, like, 3D printing, you know, something so they can get through, you know, their flight and stuff, right? Like, or even patients who can't afford. You know, I one case that i love showing people where it's, if you look at,
00:34:15
Speaker
The picture of this girl's mouth, she's like young 20s. If you were to look visually at her teeth, you're like, this is complete detritus, top and bottom. Like there's no way around it. But then you look at her x-rays and you're like, these are all restorable teeth. It's just like gross buccal caries, tons plaque. It looks way worse than it is. yeah But you know, the average 20 year old can't afford a full mouth rehab. So what are your options? You would dentulate this girl at 20 or you know, put Yeah. And so being able to have like other types of materials and technologies to say like, well, hey, why don't we three d print you a full moth of crowns and through the next X number of years, pick two and convert them to ceramic every year, right? Or whatever it is, you know, whatever you can do. It's two, if it's three, whatever. And we'll just slowly convert these through the years, but we're going to save you being indentures for the rest of your life, hopefully.
00:35:10
Speaker
So, yeah. So stay curious, keep learning, push the envelope just because you do it one way and it works. Doesn't mean it's not worth learning even what not to do sometimes, right? Like it's okay to even learn things and be like, I never want to do that. Like harvesting tissue from someone's palate.
00:35:27
Speaker
I never want to do that. And understand sometimes you can't, you know, use allograft in certain situations and whatever else, right? But like, I don't want to do that to people. And I don't do that. Glad I learned it. Good to know. Good to understand. But like, not for me. yeah, see I think that's probably like the most important things to having a good mental space, a good healthy career, and enjoying what you do.
Gratitude and Closing Remarks
00:35:53
Speaker
Well, this has been so fun. I feel like we will have to have you back on and chat again. Just a you know couple of gal pals hanging out. I know. I honestly, it's so nice to like interact with adults. So thank you. yes Not that the Goo Goo Gaga's aren't adorable. Yes. but like, no, this was lovely and wonderful. And I so appreciate, you know, our time together and you guys are awesome. And thank you for what you're doing and just your your general vibe. It's been a pleasure. so I really appreciate it.
00:36:23
Speaker
Thank you. Could you let our listeners and followers and know where they can find you or reach out to you? Yes, you can find me in my daughter's nursery. no. you can Find me at, that's where she keeps me twenty four seven now. i live there. No, so my office is Gantos Dental Group. um We're on Instagram, Facebook, Gantos Dental Group. You can also email me, DrGantos, G-A-N-T-O-S, doctors just D-R, no you know period in between, GantosDentalGroup.com. Or honestly, people most of the time will hit me up on Facebook or Instagram, which is probably the easiest way of getting a hold of me. um and I'm always happy to help anyone that I can help. I've had a lot of great mentors a lot great people that have helped me. So that's certainly how we advance a profession by all means. So anything typically i would say practice ownership related, technology related, design, you know, equipment, stuff like that is
00:37:20
Speaker
Oftentimes, many of the things umm I talk to people about and I'm always happy to chat about whatever. Awesome. Well, thanks everyone for listening in and we'll catch you back next time. Alrighty. Thanks so much, guys. I'll see you. Have a great day. Thank you for joining us for this episode of Beyond Graduation.
00:37:36
Speaker
If you enjoyed this week's episode, be sure to share it with a friend. Connect with us on social media at Savannah Craig DBS and at Dr. Sartor.
00:37:48
Speaker
And remember, you are not alone on this journey. ADEC certified pre-owned equipment is a sustainable, affordable choice that makes genuine ADEC equipment available to every doctor. Each package is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. So if you see one you like, contact your dealer. For more information, go to www.adec.com backslash findadealer. Thank you for listening to Beyond Graduation brought to you by Ignite DDS and Future Dentists. This episode was sponsored by Ignite DDS Coaching.
00:38:19
Speaker
We build self-determined futures. For more information, please reach out to the Ignite DDS team.