6 - Dr. Bob Margeas

Apr 28, 2020

Dr. Bob Margeas, a professor at the University of Iowa, Editor-in-Chief of Inside Dentistry, speaker, and educator, shares how he’s able to juggle everything while maintaining his private practice, Iowa Dental Group. He confesses that he was fired not just from his first job but from his second job, too, and shares the funny encounter that happened 20 years later. Despite a rocky start, he didn’t stop – which has paid off in the form of massive opportunities, growth, and success. Listen in to hear what Bob would tell his younger self if he could – and get a peek into what he’ll be sharing at The Exchange.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 03:00 – Introducing Dr. Bob Margeas, a dental professional in Des Moines, Iowa, professor of Operative Dentistry at the University of Iowa, and Editor-in-Chief of Inside Dentistry
• 04:05 – What Bob did before dentistry
• 04:15 – He was a biology major and decided to take the test to get into dental school at the very last minute
• 06:30 – Bob’s dental confession
• 06:50 – At his first job, he did a filling for his girlfriend and gave her a discount even though his boss told him not to; he was fired from his second job, too
• 08:00 – When he was fired from his second job, he owed his boss $3,000; 20 years later he was at the Kois Center as a scientific advisor for composites and adhesives
• 08:30 – His old boss was at the Kois Center and heard Bob’s name at a symposium; they reunited and his old boss called him his “first associate”
• 09:20 – Until 2001 when he merged with the best dentist in Des Moines, he did well; but it didn’t take off until he found a mentor and was given an opportunity
• 10:10 – On making the jump to the aesthetic arena
• 10:35 – He was interested from the very beginning; in his first 5 years he had 500 hours and laid the foundation to be able to teach down the road
• 13:10 – If you have someone who believes in you, a lot can happen
• 13:20 – When aesthetic cases go wrong
• 13:25 – After 30 years of doing veneers, he still gets apprehensive when he’s going to seat 8-10 veneers; he doesn’t do them all at once
• 13:55 – If you’re not nervous, you’re not taking it seriously and that’s when things can go wrong
• 15:50 – On digital vs. analog impressions for implants
• 16:05 – The digital ones slowed him down because he works with just one dental assistant; he still uses analog dentistry
• 17:00 – Tim and Mike like digital; they say you can do 90-95% digital
• 18:08 – Bob has about $10,00-worthof parts and pieces for implants; the most profitable thing they do is posterior single-tooth implants
• 09:15 – When Bob got into implants and composites
• 19:30 – He started learning about implants in the 80s; he started placing implants in 2002-2003 and had a veteran as a back-up
• 20:30 – He restores implants and does about 200-240 implants a year
• 21:05 – He got into composites at the University of Iowa and took his first course in Chicago 3 times, then became an assistant
• 22:20 – He started lecturing in Canada in 2000
• 22:45 – On how he’s been so accomplished
• 22:50 – He was single and didn’t get married until he was 53; he had lots of time to write, research, and learn
• 24:02 – He got married in 2014 to a dentist; he now has two step-kids and flies back and forth from Iowa to Michigan where the family lives
• 25:20 – His practice is lean and mean; he implemented a bonus plan for his hygienists so they would be motivated to see more patients
• 27:20 – Now, there has never been a month where they didn’t hit bonus
• 27:50 – On the secret to success
• 27:50 – Happiness is the key to success; his goal is to educate the patient and have them accept the dentistry that they need
• 29:50 – When you feel bad for patients, bad things happen and you make bad decisions
• 30:45 – Advice for his younger self
• 30:50 – He would tell himself not to wait so long to start his own practice; he was an associate for a long time but you can make much more money as your own boss
• 31:30 – If he bought a practice, he would ask the cost of servicing the debt of that practice and if he could live off the rest after paying the debt
• 32:45 – Practice where you want to live and always look at the numbers and what you can make
• 33:10 – Bob is grateful for his mentors who gave him opportunities
• 33:35 – Some successes
• 33:40 – He’s fortunate to be a part of some prestigious dental organizations; he has a teaching center and is an expert in a town of experts
• 34:20 – He has an open door policy and helps people through cases; he recommends sharing information and is grateful for the respect of his peers
• 34:50 – On The Exchange, Smile Source’s annual meeting
• 35:08 – He’ll be talking about everyday dentistry in the morning; he will explain how he uses composite resin to alter the vertical/change the tooth shape to get people by
• 36:00 – He’ll show some live demonstrations in the afternoon and it’ll be interactive

3 Key Points

1. If you’re passionate, people will want to share knowledge.
2. Incredible things can happen with a mentor.
3. When you feel bad for patients, you make bad decisions.

Contact/Resources

• Timothy’s Family Practice – Chips Dental
• Mike’s Practice – Advanced Dental
• Bob’s Practice – Iowa Dental Group