Richard Simcock, DDS

Coaching with Endo2Endo

What can you tell us about your background?

I currently own North Sound Root Canal Specialists, and I’ve been a practicing endodontist for 23 years. After graduating from Loma Linda University Dental School in 1997, I was accepted into the endodontic residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center and graduated in 1999. I opened my first practice in Skagit County, Washington. Eighteen years later, I opened a second location in Whatcom County, a 30-minute drive from our Skagit office. In 2020, I sold my original practice and set my sights on developing a coaching program called Endo2Endo.

What originally attracted you to the specialty of endodontics?

The simplicity of having patients who want to keep their natural dentition and not needing to “sell” dentistry. Also, it’s just me and the tooth.

What aspect of your training inspired you to add educator to your list of accomplishments?

Having some great mentors and coaches early in my career who inspired me to grow. At this point in my career, I feel like there are a lot of new endodontists with open minds who want to excel.

What are your proudest moments in the clinical and teaching aspects of your life?

In the office, I love it when patients ask, “Is that it?” They are so surprised by the concept of a pain-free root canal performed in one visit that is often less than 40 minutes.  When I’m coaching on clinical efficiency, it’s rewarding to watch the light go on in a client’s eyes. It’s also great to hear that they’re integrating technology to help complete more cases per day, but in fewer hours without increasing their stress.

What do you think is unique about the topics you teach?

After you graduate from school, you know how to practice endodontics, but running a business is whole other ball game. So, I put together a program that’s centered on helping other endodontists utilize advanced technology to help their practices become more profitable. There are a lot of wonderful business coaches out there, but there are no programs that are taught by a practicing endodontist who’s in the trenches with you. I focus on helping my colleagues adopt specific methods that help streamline their scheduling, improve clinical efficiency and workflow to help them increase their net revenue. From there, they can pay down their debt, hire a new associate, and take more time away from the office, all while improving their bottom line.

As an educator, what have you learned from your clinical students?

Endodontics is a fun way to make a living. There has never been a better time to be an endodontist.

What has been your biggest challenge in sharing information and educating endodontists?

Endodontics is a field that’s been traditionally slow to adopt change, and therefore, it can become a bit stale and monotonous. Even for me, when I first purchased the GentleWave^® for our office, the new technology wasn’t easy to integrate into my clinical protocol at first. It took longer to treat patients and threw us behind schedule, so it collected dust for a while until I was determined to implement new changes to my routine. Once I opened my mind to the new system, I quickly saw how this technology could help me become even more efficient. I think our field, like many others, is quick to resist change. It’s been fun watching the light bulb go on when my colleagues learn how they can improve treatment times with this new technology and maintain a high level of patient care.

What advice would you give to budding endodontists?

Open your mind! And find a mentor to lead and guide you. We simply don’t know what we don’t know, and having a coach can help those blind spots that we all have. When you can streamline your scheduling and clinical protocols, everything falls into place because now you have solid systems that can handle a productive workflow.

What is the future of endodontics?

Minimally invasive endodontics. Our goal is to preserve as much of the natural tooth structure as possible while treating the infection, so our patient gets to keep his/her tooth, while maintaining quality of life for as long as possible. I always say endodontics is one of the most exciting fields to work in right now and that’s because we get to employ amazing technology that helps us save 99% of the teeth we treat.

What would you have become, had you not become a dentist?

A rock star.

What are your hobbies, and what do you do in your spare time?

My wife, Hannah, and I live on Bellingham Bay with our two dogs, Eloise and Darby, and we love getting out to play in the mountains and on the water. We also love traveling, reading, and music. I’m a bassist, and I was playing regionally with my band before the pandemic.