Season’s greetings from all at the Dentology Podcast.
In this episode of the Dentology podcast, Dr. James Hunter shares his unique journey from a global upbringing to becoming a dentist. He discusses his early life in Singapore, Colorado, and Oxford, and how these experiences have shaped his worldview.
He reflects on his transition from studying theology to dentistry, the challenges faced during his foundation training amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and his upcoming family move to Liberia to provide dental care in a country with a severe shortage of dentists.
He talks about the political landscape of Liberia, the challenges of relocating with a family, the impact of dental practice on community health, and his plans to integrate family life within a new culture.
Topics:
- How did your early years set you up for the person you are today?
- What work did your parents do?
- You studied at Cardiff Dental School but wasn’t your first degree, was it?
- Your Foundation Training year fell during the Covid lockdowns, how did this impact your ability to get some practical experience?
- Tell us about the associate position at the practice in Cornwall and what dentistry is Cornwall is like?
- Tell us about your new adventure to the West African country of Liberia. How did this come about?
- Talk us through the landscape of this country and what oral healthcare looks like?
- What do you think will be early challenges moving to the west coast of Africa?
- What is the plan while you are there – treat or treat and train others?
- What will family life look like for you?
- How can people keep in touch with your experience?
In this episode, hosts Andy and Chris chat with Sarika Shah, a dentist and principal of Platinum Dental Care, discussing her remarkable journey from Kenya to the UK.
Sarika shares insights about her childhood, the influence of her parents, her decision to move to England for education, and her eventual choice to pursue a career in dentistry.
Sarika shares her journey from being an international student to becoming a successful dental practice owner. She discusses the importance of keeping options open during her education, the challenges she faced in securing a dental position, and the significance of mastering clinical skills before venturing into the business side of dentistry.
Sarika emphasises the entrepreneurial spirit within the dental field and the transformation of her practice, Platinum Dental Care, into a thriving business. She also highlights the crucial role of dental care professionals and the need for collaboration within the dental team.
Finally, she shares her personal journey of balancing family life with running a business and talks about the significance of self-care, personal leadership, and the need for mentorship and community support for women in dentistry.
Topics:
- How did your parents set you up for the future given you grew up in Kenya and moved to the UK when you were 16 to finish high school?
- Did you always know you’d be a dentist?
- You qualified from Manchester and then did your VT in Norwich – what was dental school like and why Norwich?
- Did you seek out any business education in the early years?
- Were you always destined to be a principal?
- What more did you need that being an associate couldn’t deliver?
- What did the practice look like when you bought it compared to what you have now?
- Is there a general misunderstanding inside the profession (which impacts on patient understanding) of the value that therapists (and to a lesser extent hygienists) bring the party?
- Since buying your practice you’ve also become a mum, how did this change things for you?
- This year you launched Flourish as a Female – tell us about this?
In this episode, hosts Andy and Chris chat with Reena Wadia, a renowned figure of authority across the global dental industry and Principal Periodontist and Founder of RW Perio, leading clinic for periodontal health located on 75 Harley Street.
Reena talks about her journey in dentistry, the influences of her upbringing, and discusses her early aspirations.
She reflects on her decision to pursue a career path specialising in periodontology and the challenges faced in setting up and marketing a specialist practice.
She talks about her new book, The Perio Handbook and her work with the Perio School, the leading Global Teaching Academy for Periodontal Courses which she set up due to the increasing demand for training in periodontics.
Topics:
- Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like?
- You qualified from Barts and The London with the prestigious Gold Medal – what did your dental career look like in the early days?
- What was it about perio that caught your attention?
- What are the challenges you’ve faced marketing a specialist practice
- Your new book ‘The Perio Handbook’ – who is it for?
- Has the way perio is treated changed much over the years?
- Is gum aesthetics generally available as part of a wider aesthetic makeover or does it require a periodontist?
- Tell us about the Perio School – is there a decent level of interest in perio and gums?
In this episode, hosts Chris and Andy chat to Stephen Kettle, a seasoned business professional with over 30 years of experience in the building maintenance industry and now a key figure in the dental fit-out niche. As the founder of Clover Dental Fit Out, Stephen took a bold step in launching his business during 2021, amidst the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stephen talks about his childhood in Cheshire, the early influences in his life that have been pivotal to his career success and his decision to transition into the dental sector.
He shares how he came to specialise in dental fitouts, the support he offers to aspiring dentists, key considerations for setting up a successful dental practice and the emerging trend of super clinics in dentistry.
He discusses the challenges and rewards of starting Clover Dental Fit Out during such a turbulent time and shares his insights on navigating the complexities of starting a dental practice.
Finally, he talks about his experience with the Flying Start TV programme back in the late 90’s which provided him with valuable business mentorship.
Topics:
- Tell us about your childhood. What was your upbringing like?
- How did you come to be in the dental niche?
- Starting Clover Dental Fit Out: Was 2021 a great or tough time to start a new business?
- What are key differences between the dental niche and general businesses?
- What are the current trends in what new practices are looking for?
- When setting up a new practice we know how important the location is – do most clients come to you with a site they’ve committed to?
- Is there an optimal blueprint for a squat?
- What would you say are the 3 most important things if you right at the beginning of planning your squat?
- In other countries (far east, USA etc) there are super-clinics with 20+ surgeries, do you see a time where UK dentistry could go down this path?
- Tell us about your experience with the Flying Start TV programme in the late 90’s
- Based on your own experience - what are the most important skills for an entrepreneur to have?
In this conversation, hosts Andy and Chris delve into the significance of personal branding for dental professionals.
They discuss how personal branding can enhance a dentist's professional identity, attract patients, and create a positive narrative in the industry.
The conversation covers practical steps for building a personal brand, the role of social media, and the importance of authenticity in branding.
They emphasise that personal branding is not just about marketing but about genuinely representing oneself and connecting with others in the dental community.
In this episode, Nipun Kathuria, co-founder and CEO of Smile Genius Dental, shares his journey from India to Ireland, discussing the importance of a positive mindset, cultural transitions, and his unexpected path into the world of dentistry.
He chats about personal growth, the challenges of adapting to new environments, and the intricacies of the dental industry.
He discusses the technological advancements in dentistry, highlighting the lag in software innovation compared to other industries.
Finally, Nipun shares insights on entrepreneurship, personal growth, and the challenges faced in the dental tech market.
Topics:
- Was there a time you can look back on your childhood and say this is why I am the person I am today?
- Tell us about your move from Ireland to do an MBA at Trinity College.
- How did you find this transition – from leaving family, a new continent, different culture?
- What sort of work experience did you gain in the early days?
- How did you get into dentistry?
- When did you start looking at workflows for clear aligners?
- Do the patient, the practice and the lab need to be aligned for progress to be made? Is there a weak link?
- Who do you see at the forefront of this market?
- Align is clearly a dominant player in this market but could this change over time with tech, workflows, cost to deliver, etc shifting over time?
- Are labs behind the game in marketing themselves and their services?
- If you can take only one learning from your entrepreneurial journey - what is it?
In this podcast episode, hosts Andy and Chris talk with health and wellness coach George Vernon about his journey becoming a boxing enthusiast and ultimately a health coach.
They explore the importance of holistic health, the impact of burnout, and the challenges of changing mindsets in the fitness industry.
George chats about the need for a comprehensive approach to health that includes physical fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, while also sharing personal experiences that shaped his understanding of optimal health.
He emphasises the importance of balancing work and home life, finding one's niche, and the significance of resistance training.
Finally, the conversation touches on common traits among dentists, important skills for entrepreneurs, and ways to overcome barriers to health and fitness.
Topics:
- Was there a time you can look back on your childhood and say this is why I am the person I am today?
- What was the driver to box – was it fitness, protection, fighting, energy outlet?
- How did you find the niche of dentistry?
- Burnout is a real issue in dentistry, how did this build manifest itself for you?
- Tell us more about your comprehensive approach to health. Can you just focus on one area?
- How can dentists help themselves on a day-by-day basis?
- In life we have a knack of finding time for the things we want to do so why do we find it so hard to prioritise time for our health?
- Do dentists have specific needs to get on track and stay there?
- What are the most important skills for an entrepreneur to have?
In this episode, Dr. Sorabh Patel (Principal Dentist and lead clinician at Dental Beauty Blackheath and Dental Beauty Lee) chats to hosts Chris and Andy about his journey becoming a dentist and practice owner. He discusses his childhood, the challenges faced by his family, the impact of his upbringing on his work ethic, and the pivotal moments that led him to choose dentistry as a career.
He chats about his time at dental school and the motivations behind his decision to enter a partnership in practice ownership, emphasising the importance of real-world experience over formal education and his decision to partner in a dental practice.
Finally, he reflects on the daily challenges of running a practice, the sacrifices he has made for success, and the lessons learned along the way.
Topics:
- Can you set the scene for us and let us know what your childhood was like?
- What did you see in these few weeks that made you want to join the profession?
- Do we still have this early-stage opportunity for youngsters to get this experience?
- What was dental school like?
- Was it always your career plan to own a practice?
- Why did you choose the partnership route instead of going it alone?
- What does your day to day work look like?
- When you started in dentistry who was kind to you?
- Are soft skills important communication skills getting left out at dental school?
- What is the cost of your success?
- Has anything been left behind for this success?
- If you can take only one learning from your entrepreneurial journey- what is it?
