Wellness Dentistry Is the Future: Beyond Drill, Fill & Wait | Dr. Brandon Prior

What if dentistry stopped waiting for problems to get worse and started focusing on prevention, optimization, and whole-patient health? In this episode of The Aurum Meridian, Robert Hawkins sits down with Dr. Brandon Prior, founder of 100 West Dental, to explore his approach to wellness dentistry and why he believes it’s distinctly different from holistic dentistry. Dr. Prior shares how his practice evaluates patients through a broader risk-based lens, looking beyond traditional restorative dentistry to consider periodontal health, function, aesthetics, airway, and overall wellness. The conversation explores how oral health can fit into a more proactive approach to patient care and why dentistry has an opportunity to become a more central part of the healthcare conversation. They also dig into the practical side of building a modern dental practice, including salivary pathogen testing, CBCT imaging, airway screening, AI-assisted technologies, practice culture, team training, patient experience, and the limitations of the traditional “watch and wait” approach. Dr. Prior also shares lessons from growing 100 West Dental from three chairs and one employee to a larger multi-doctor practice, and why intentional leadership, culture, and understanding your “why” matter as much as clinical innovation. In this episode: Wellness dentistry vs. holistic dentistry Moving beyond “watch and wait” dentistry Periodontal health and a broader view of patient wellness Airway screening and sleep-related considerations Salivary pathogen testing and CBCT technology AI and emerging technology in dental practices Building a strong dental team and practice culture Creating consistent patient experiences as a practice grows Why prevention and proactive care matter Finding your “why” as a dentist and practice owner If you’re a dentist, hygienist, dental practice owner, or dental professional interested in the future of patient care, practice growth, airway dentistry, technology, and wellness-focused dentistry, this conversation offers a practical look at where the profession may be heading. Subscribe to The Aurum Meridian for more conversations with dental professionals exploring clinical innovation, leadership, technology, practice growth, and the changing future of dentistry. #Dentistry #WellnessDentistry #DentalPodcast #AirwayDentistry #DentalPractice #OralHealth #DentalTechnology #Periodontics #DentalAI #PracticeGrowth #Dentists