Everyday Oral Surgery

Dry mouth is more than an inconvenience. It can affect eating, speaking, sleeping, oral health, and overall quality of life, but identifying the cause isn't always straightforward. In this episode, Dr. Hayley Vatcher, an Oral Medicine Specialist, joins Dr. Grant Stucki to explain how oral surgeons can better recognize, diagnose, and manage salivary gland disorders. She clarifies the difference between xerostomia (subjective dryness) and true salivary hypofunction (clinical dryness), outlines a practical diagnostic approach, and discusses the many factors that can reduce salivary flow, from medications and radiation therapy to autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome. Dr. Vatcher also reviews current treatment options, including lifestyle modifications, prescription medications, and salivary gland therapies, while sharing promising research into regenerative treatments that may one day restore salivary function rather than simply relieve symptoms. Discover practical strategies that can help improve care for patients living with salivary gland dysfunction.
Key Points From This Episode:
Today’s guest and topic: Dr. Hayley Vatcher discusses salivary gland disorders.
Why saliva is essential for oral health and quality of life.
Common causes of dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction.
A practical approach to evaluating patients with dry mouth.
Identifying xerostomia (subjective dryness) vs. true salivary hypofunction (clinical dryness).
Measuring salivary flow to guide diagnosis and treatment.
First-line lifestyle changes and over-the-counter treatment options.
When to prescribe medications to stimulate salivary flow.
Managing medication-induced dry mouth with physicians.
Radiation and chemo-related dry mouth and promising regenerative therapies.
Causes and treatment of hypersalivation and how to identify it.
How Sjögren's syndrome and other autoimmune diseases can cause dry mouth.
Diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome with clinical testing and biopsy.
Treatment strategies that reduce oral complications for patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
What the evidence says about mouth taping for dry mouth.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Hayley Vatcher — https://www.charlestonoralandfacialsurgery.com/hayley-vatcher
Dr. Hayley Vatcher on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/hvatcher/
Dr. Hayley Vatcher on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dr.hayleyvatcher/
Dr. Hayley Vatcher Email — hvatcher@gmail.com
Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery — https://www.charlestonoralandfacialsurgery.com/
TheraBreath Dry Mouth Lozenges — https://www.therabreath.com/collections/lozenges-gum
Aquoral Spray — https://aquoralspray.com/
Biotène — https://www.biotene.com/
Salivea — https://www.salivea.com/
Colgate PreviDent — https://www.colgate.com/en-us/prevident
Clinpro Tooth Crème — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K5HV1HO
Boka — https://www.boka.com/
Cevimeline — https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/cevimeline-oral-route/description/drg-20062661
Pilocarpine — https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/pilocarpine-oral-route/description/drg-20065496
Dr. Michael T. Brennan, DDS, MHS — https://school.wakehealth.edu/faculty/b/michael-t-brennan
Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/
Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com
Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

During this episode, Dr. Grant Stucki is joined by Dr. Anish Gupta, a private practitioner based in Michigan, to discuss the practical applications of AI in oral surgery. To start, they discuss how AI can support practitioners with medical compliance by streamlining the note-taking and documentation process. Next, they discuss the value of automation and how AI can support efficiency and time-saving. They also explore patient sign-off for real-time recording and why it’s important for practitioners to understand that AI is not accurate 100% of the time, as well as how to work around this reality. Dr. Gupta shares how he uses AI in other areas of his life to help save time and tend to tedious tasks. More broadly, this conversation explores the value of AI and how to begin to find the areas where it can make life easier for you. 

Key Points From This Episode:
How Dr. Gupta built his career in oral surgery and how he first became interested in AI. 
Leveraging AI for note taking and documentation. 
Why automation is so valuable to Dr. Gupta’s practice. 
How he approaches patient sign-off for AI recordings.
Understanding that AI is not accurate 100% of the time. 
Other time-saving uses of AI.
AI for tracking progress and trends in dental surgery. 
Time-savers Dr. Gupta uses AI and generative AI for in other areas of his life. 
Why it is advisable to experiment with AI. 
Dr. Gupta’s book recommendation: The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher. 
How learning the guitar might have improved his hand skills. 
The role of exercise and stretching in supporting his work.
Why he uses a 150 to extract tooth number 4. 
A series he keeps revisiting: Ted Lasso. 
The Jefferson quote he lives by. 
A tip for your parenting journey. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Lyon Dental Implants — https://lyondentalimplants.com/
Lyon Dental Implants Email — lyondentalimplants@gmail.com
Lyon Dental Implants Cellphone — 248-895-1451
Kubo Surgical — https://www.kubosurgical.com/
Abridge AI — https://www.abridge.com/
Plaud AI — https://www.plaud.ai/
Overjet AI — https://www.overjet.com/
Denti AI — https://www.denti.ai/
Oryx Dental Software — https://www.oryxdental.com/
Carestack — https://carestack.com/
Dentiq — https://www.dentiqsolution.com/ 
Blue Sky Bio — https://blueskybio.com/
Implant Concierge — https://implantconcierge.com/
Canva — https://www.canva.com/ 
Claude — https://claude.ai/
The Next Conversation — https://www.amazon.com/Next-Conversation-Argue-Less-Talk/dp/0593718720
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast — https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/podcast
Ted Lasso — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/
Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com
Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

The best surgical outcomes often come from seeing beyond a single specialty. In this episode, Dr. Derek Steinbacher joins Dr. Grant Stucki to share insights from a career that has spanned oral surgery, plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, academic leadership at Yale, and private practice ownership. Dr. Steinbacher reflects on the transition from academia to private practice and explains what it takes to build a successful orthognathic surgery practice in today’s surgical landscape. The conversation explores the growing role of ambulatory surgery centers, the connection between orthognathic surgery and rhinoplasty, and why surgeons should think beyond occlusion by considering facial aesthetics, airway function, and overall facial balance during treatment planning. He also shares valuable advice for residents and young surgeons on developing expertise, staying curious, and learning from others. Don’t miss this thoughtful conversation on advancing surgical practice and thinking more holistically about patient care.
Key Points From This Episode:
Dr. Derek Steinbacher's path through oral surgery and plastic surgery training.
The biggest differences between academic surgery and private practice.
What it takes to build and grow a successful orthognathic surgery practice.
The benefits of performing orthognathic surgery in ambulatory surgery centers.
Key considerations when performing orthognathic surgery in outpatient settings.
The close relationship between orthognathic surgery, rhinoplasty, and facial aesthetics.
How surgeons can balance occlusion, function, and aesthetics when planning treatment.
Approaches to treating facial asymmetry and condylar hyperplasia cases.
Common challenges surgeons face when managing complex orthognathic cases.
Advice for residents building expertise in orthognathic surgery and clinical practice.
Rapid-fire questions about favorite books, TV shows, and life outside surgery.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Derek Steinbacher on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@dr.dereksteinbacher8638
Dr. Derek Steinbacher on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/Dereksteinbacher/
Dr. Derek Steinbacher Email — info@dereksteinbacher.com 
Dr. Derek Steinbacher Phone — 203-453-6635
Aesthetic Orthognathic Surgery and Rhinoplasty — https://www.amazon.com/Aesthetic-Orthognathic-Surgery-Rhinoplasty-Steinbacher/dp/1119186978
Autobiography of a Face — https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Face-Thirtieth-Anniversary-Grealy/dp/006328863X
Truth & Beauty: A Friendship — https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Beauty-Friendship-Ann-Patchett/dp/0060572159
A Fire in His Soul: Van Gogh, Paris, and the Making of an Artist — https://www.amazon.com/Fire-His-Soul-Making-Artist/dp/1639368450
Beef — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14403178/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_accord_1_cdt_t_1
Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/
Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com
Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Most practices focus on winning referrals, but very few think seriously about keeping them. That gap is where long-term growth is either built or lost. Joining us to explore this topic is Dr. Vic Martel, a General Dentist who has supported countless other Doctors to open and run their practices. Listen as we unpack the five pillars together and explore how you can eliminate the hurdles that sometimes keep your strongest referral relationships from becoming truly enduring partnerships, from elevating patient experiences to ensuring every interaction reinforces trust to building intentional, human communication that keeps relationships active rather than passive. We also dig into what it really means to make your best referrers feel valued, why consistent appreciation matters more than ego or self-promotion, and how even subtle gaps in how you present or position yourself can weaken otherwise strong connections. Along the way, we explore the role of education in strengthening referrals, how “hospitality” translates into clinical relationships, and the practical systems that help you sustain consistency over time rather than relying on goodwill alone.
Key Points From This Episode:
Why retaining referrals is just as important as getting them. 
Unpacking the non-negotiable need for outstanding patient experiences.
A strategy for maintaining personal communication with referrals.
How to make your really good referrals feel extra special.
Why appreciation is more important than ego. 
An example of what isn’t good enough when it comes to selling yourself. 
What to educate your referrals on and how to do it. 
Understanding how to show ‘hospitality’ in the context of dentistry. 
How to appreciate your referrals and show it. 
Practical tips to keep connections alive. 
Leveraging systems to create consistency in your referral base.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Vic Martel Email — martelvic@gmail.com
Dr. Vic Martel on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-martel-dmd-fagd-91431922/
Unreasonable Hospitality — https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/
Giftology — https://giftologygroup.com/
 Beyond Giftology — https://giftologygroup.com/beyondgiftology/
The Ritz Carlton Effect (The New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company) — https://www.amazon.ca/New-Gold-Standard-Leadership-Ritz-Carlton/dp/0071548335 
Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/
Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com
Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

How can dynamic navigation make implant placement faster, more accurate, and easier to integrate into a same-day workflow? In this episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, host Dr. Grant Stucki and co-host Dr. Jake Stucki are joined by Dr. Dexter Mattox to discuss how Dr. Mattox uses the X-Guide implant system in his oral surgery practice. Dr. Mattox shares why he adopted X-Guide after opening his own practice, how it supports his goal of faster patient intake and treatment, and why guided implant placement has become a routine part of his workflow. He also breaks down the basic concept of dynamic navigation, how the system tracks the patient and handpiece in real time, and how this compares with freehand, static guided, and robotic implant placement. Dr. Mattox walks through his patient preparation process, the power of cone beam computed tomography scans, drill calibration, assistant training, and what is needed for same-day treatments. They also discuss the costs of using the system, intraoral scanning, sedation, patient acceptance, and the importance of team buy-in for making the technology work. Tune in to learn how dynamic navigation can improve implant workflows, support accuracy, and deliver more efficient surgery with Dr. Dexter Mattox.
Key Points From This Episode:
Why and how Dr. Mattox implemented X-Guide as a routine part of his implant workflow.
Explore why guided implant placement can offer greater accuracy than freehand surgery.
Learn about dynamic navigation and how X-Guide uses patient and handpiece tracking. 
Hear how different handpieces and drills can be calibrated for the X-Guide workflow.
What happens when a patient arrives for an implant consultation and same-day treatment.
How he uses X-Guide during tooth extraction, osteotomy preparation, and implant placement.
Understand how the system can support better ergonomics during implant surgery.
Find out what the X-Guide screen shows while controlling angulation, position, and depth.
Unpack what surgeons should consider before purchasing the X-Guide system.
Insights into how patients respond to navigated implant surgery and guided surgery fees.
Overview of the challenges that could occur when using the X-Guide system. 
Uncover why team commitment is essential when implementing X-Guide.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Dexter Mattox – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dextermattox/
Dr. Dexter Mattox Email: dextermattox@gmail.com
X-Guide: https://x-navtech.com/about-x-guide/
X-Nav Technologies: https://x-navtech.com/
NaviDent: https://www.claronav.com/navident/
If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies – https://www.amazon.com/Anyone-Builds-Everyone-Dies-Superhuman/dp/0316595640
Dr. Jake Stucki: https://www.southglennmoderndentistry.com/meet-our-team/team-member.jake-stucki-staff-id-45490/
Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 
Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/
Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com
Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059