Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors: A Dental Industry Debate Podcast

Recorded live at the Dykema DSO conference 2026, in a room built for the industry's biggest consolidators, this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors puts host Dr. Ryan Hungate up against Brian Colao, Director of Dykema's DSO Industry Group and founder of the conference, to debate one of dentistry's biggest questions: is the industry headed toward DSO dominated consolidation, or will the independent practice keep thriving?  A coin flip decides who argues which side. Neither host knew his assignment until the mic was live.  The episode covers: 
The dinosaur position: only a licensed dentist can practice dentistry, and a new generation of doctors is prioritizing autonomy and lifestyle over scale and efficiency
The disruptor position: most dentists were never trained to run a business, and DSOs can remove the operational burden of claims, HR, and marketing that has nothing to do with clinical care
Where it lands: friction, not ideology, is the real driver of consolidation, and incentive alignment separates the DSOs that are thriving from the ones that are struggling
Dr. Greg White, President and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships and a nearly 30-year practicing orthodontist, joins as judge.  Vote in the live poll and find out next episode whether the room's verdict, cast by an audience of professional consolidators, matches where the rest of the industry actually lands.  Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental industry debate podcast by Henry Schein One. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate and returning guest-turned-cohost Zach Shelley debate one of the hottest topics in healthcare today: is AI actually transforming dental practices, or is it just hype?
The episode covers:
The dinosaur position: patient trust and the human touch still matter most, and automation can't replace real chairside connection
The disruptor position: AI-powered imaging, radiograph analysis, and automation are genuinely improving efficiency, team happiness, and even treatment acceptance
Where both sides land: the technology itself usually isn't the problem — poor implementation is, and leadership buy-in makes or breaks a successful rollout
Special guest Jennifer Steadman joins to share real-world insights on onboarding AI into a dental practice without losing the personal touch patients expect.
Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental practice podcast by Henry Schein One.
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate and Barbie Elmore, Director of Product, Revenue Cycle Management at Henry Schein One, debate one of dentistry's most polarizing financial decisions: should you pass the 3% credit card processing fee to your patients, or absorb it as a cost of doing business?
The episode covers:
The dinosaur position: patient trust is worth more than the 3%, and surcharging can quietly erode goodwill and reviews
The disruptor position: that 3% adds up to real money, and it's revenue being left on the table
What both sides agree on: know your payor mix first, fix your front desk and billing accuracy before adding a surcharge, and make sure your payment processor is actually integrated with your practice management software
Practice management consultant Jill Nesbitt of Optimized Dental joins as the expert referee, bringing real stories from hundreds of practices and a clear framework for who should — and shouldn't — consider surcharging.
Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental practice podcast by Henry Schein One.
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

 
In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, Dr. Ryan Hungate and Barbie Elmore, Senior Director of Product Management at Henry Schein One, debate one of the biggest operational headaches in dentistry: dental RCM, insurance verification, and whether AI can finally reduce the burden on front-office teams.
 
Joined by Zach Shelley, President of Zero Dental Billing, the conversation explores why payor data is still inconsistent, why insurance verification often still requires a human touch, and where technology, automation, outsourcing, and AI agents may fit into the future of revenue cycle management.
 
The episode covers:
Why dental insurance verification still depends on manual calls in many practices
Where AI and automation can help — and where they still fall short
How better data, payer accountability, and smarter workflows could improve patient experience and practice efficiency
And if you tuned in last week, the results are in: Disruptors win the debate on AI in the dental office.
Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental industry debate podcast by Henry Schein One.
 

In this episode of Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors, host Dr. Ryan Hungate brings together Marty Kearns and AI expert Dr. Kristin Johnson to debate whether artificial intelligence in the dental office represents a revolutionary tool for efficiency or an unnecessary risk to patient care and the human touch.
The episode covers:
The dinosaur position: Marty argues that AI introduces significant risks, including front-office job displacement, overreliance on automation, and a critical loss of human connection in dentistry.
The disruptor position: The conversation champions AI as an essential solution to eliminate front-office burnout, improve patient experiences, and usher in a "golden age" of dentistry through deep personalization and preventative care.
What both sides agree on / key takeaway: While navigating AI ethics and HIPAA concerns is a shared challenge, teams can successfully start experimenting with AI without feeling overwhelmed by focusing on practical, low-risk implementation.
Marty Kearns brings his seasoned perspective to defend traditional practice workflows as the Executive Director of RCM Business Development at Henry Schein One, while Dr. Kristin Johnson, Leader, US Public Sector Strategic Engagement Teams at AWS, leverages her deep technical expertise to break down the future of AI, AGI, and artificial superintelligence in healthcare.
 
Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors is a dental practice podcast by Henry Schein One.
 
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

Healthcare is entering a new era — and not everyone will survive the shift. Dinosaurs vs. Disruptors brings together the industry’s sharpest minds across healthcare, technology, and business to challenge assumptions, debate what’s next, and expose the forces redefining the market in real time. Hosted by Dr. Ryan Hungate, each episode delivers bold perspectives, hard truths, and practical insight for leaders navigating constant disruption. Brace for impact.