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n Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Melissa Seibert sits down with cosmetic dentist and AACD residency preceptor Dr. David Eshom for a powerful conversation that reframes how dentists think about photography, diagnosis, communication, and case acceptance. Drawing from more than 20 years of comprehensive cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Eshom reveals why extraoral photography—not intraoral cameras, not radiographs—is the single most effective tool for building trust and helping patients clearly see the value of comprehensive care.

Together, they break down a step-by-step new patient workflow that seamlessly blends diagnostics with psychology, showing how simple point-and-shoot photography placed at the beginning of the exam can elevate patient engagement, differentiate your practice, and eliminate the pressure-based communication styles that leave patients feeling skeptical or overwhelmed. Dr. Eshom explains how co-diagnosis—rooted in permission-based dialogue and visual storytelling—helps patients recognize their own conditions, understand consequences, and ask for solutions rather than being sold to.

This episode dives into:

• The most overlooked use of photography in dentistry: real-time conversation with the patient

• How to structure a new patient visit that fosters trust, clarity, and long-term case acceptance

• Why facially generated treatment planning is so effective—especially for patients who "never knew" what their smile looked like

• Communication strategies that shift patients from an "insurance model" to a value-driven mindset

• How simplifying photography (yes, even with an iPhone or point-and-shoot) makes comprehensive exams dramatically more effective

• What to say—and not say—when presenting conditions to avoid making patients feel judged or pressured

• How this method empowered Dr. Eshom to build a fully fee-for-service practice and drop every insurance plan

This conversation is practical, strategic, and deeply grounded in human psychology. If you want a proven communication system that elevates your new patient experience, improves case acceptance, and builds lifelong patient trust—all without feeling salesy—this episode will reshape how you practice.

Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com

Register for the live meeting: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/ElevationSummit

Download the Injection Molding Guide: https://www.theelevatedgp.com/IMpdf

In Part 2 of this powerful two-part series, Dr. Melissa Seibert sits back down with renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Scott Bolding, whose orthopedic-driven approach to TMJ diagnostics and surgery is reshaping how dentistry understands joint disease. If you've ever wondered why TMJ patients get "punted" from provider to provider, why MRI-based diagnosis never became mainstream, or how degenerative joint pathology silently derails orthodontic and restorative outcomes, this episode will fundamentally change the way you think.

Dr. Bolding unpacks the historical missteps that led to dentistry's decades-long avoidance of TMJ surgery—from disastrous 1980s implant materials to insurance fallout and a profession-wide retreat from joint management. He explains how this cultural shift created clinical blind spots that we still see today, and why the message of "TMJ will get better if you leave it alone" has harmed diagnostic rigor for an entire generation of dentists.

Together, Dr. Seibert and Dr. Bolding explore:

• How ligament injury leads to disc displacement—and when that displacement becomes surgically relevant

• Why MRI and CBCT are indispensable tools for modern diagnosis (and what specific radiographic findings clinicians should never overlook)

• How unaddressed joint pathology contributes to tooth wear, occlusal collapse, postoperative symptoms, and even failed orthognathic cases

• The truth about total joint prostheses today—far removed from the failed biomaterials of the past—and why custom joints offer dramatic predictability for patients with severe degeneration

• The critical need for comprehensive dentists to reclaim TMJ literacy and function as quarterbacks—not bystanders—in interdisciplinary care

Dr. Bolding also describes the orthopedic model for surgical decision-making, clarifying when joints can be repaired, when they cannot, and how airway considerations should influence mandibular advancement in joint reconstruction. The conversation closes with a call to action for dentists everywhere: joint-aware dentistry isn't optional—it's foundational to predictable outcomes in restorative, orthodontic, and airway-driven treatment planning.

This is a masterclass in the contemporary philosophy of TMJ management—equal parts clinical insight, historical context, and future-forward thinking.

Join Elevated GP: www.theelevatedgp.com

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Description:
In this episode, Dr. Scott Bolding — leading oral and maxillofacial surgeon and airway reconstruction expert — dismantles the outdated belief that sleep apnea is primarily a soft-tissue problem. He explains why the bone dictates the obstruction, why skeletal repositioning is the true driver of airway patency, and how maxillary advancement, mandibular rotation, and hyoid biomechanics can radically transform patient physiology. You'll also hear how CBCT, DICE, and joint-first diagnostics reshape treatment planning for sleep apnea and complex cases. A must-listen for clinicians who want to move beyond superficial airway conversations and into evidence-based surgical frameworks.