This week in the Dentology Podcast Andy and Chris talk to Kunal Patel, owner and Clinical Director of Love Teeth Dental Practice, a state-of-the-art practice based in Sutton, Surrey, where he works alongside his wife, Lucy.

Despite only having been a dentist for 12 years, Kunal is one of only two UK dentists to become a FastBraces Senior Master Affiliate, and he also achieved Invisalign Diamond Provider status in record time!

In this episode, Kunal talks about working as a clinical dentist and his journey into practice ownership. He explains his decisions and business plans to grow Love Teeth into a multiple practice brand, the steps he’s taking to achieve this goal and shares his secrets to success for recruiting a great team!

Finally, Kunal talks about the dreadful targeted attack he was recently subjected to and the impact this has had on his everyday life with his wife and family.

A great listen!

Topics:

- Pathway into dentistry

- Clinical dentist to practice ownership

- Love Teeth: a family business / growth into a multiple practice brand

- Why via squats?

- The timeline and numbers for your 1st practice to date

- What’s your secret to success for recruitment?

- What impact did the recent targeted attack you were subjected to have on how you live your life?

- How did your parents react?

Our guest this week on the Dentology Podcast is Claire Berry, award winning hygienist and facial aesthetics specialist qualifying from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh whilst serving in the Army.

With lots of experience, she is also a key opinion leader for big names such as Oral B and writes articles for dental journals and magazines and has been featured in other magazines such as Yorkshire Brides, PBL and other aesthetic publications. She carries out facial aesthetics and has been doing this for a number of years, in which time she is becoming known for her bespoke natural lip enhancements, as well as more advanced procedures.

In this episode, Claire chats to Chris and Andy about her childhood, her passion for sport, the years she spent serving in the Army and some of the challenges faced on leaving. She also talks about the beautiful private practice in Leeds where she currently works 4 days a week, her role as co-founder of the nationwide study club, the Contemporary Hygienist and shares her thoughts on where she sees hygiene going in the future as part of long-term dental care.

A great episode – enjoy!

Topics:

- Background & childhood

- Your enthusiasm for sports

- Your army days & adjusting to civilian life

- The driver behind creating the Contemporary Hygienist

- Where do you see hygiene going in the future as part of dental care?

This week in the Dentology Podcast Andy and Chris chat to Dr Robbie Hughes, principal director at Dental Excellence, a dental practice and cutting-edge laboratory in Liverpool.

Robbie qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2008 with honours and an array of prestigious awards for distinction grades and exceptional clinical performance. Very early in his career he set his sights on promoting excellence within the private dental sector, with a very special interest in cosmetic dentistry.

In this episode of Dentology Robbie talks about his background, the lessons he’s learnt from sport that can be taken into business and he explains more about his forward-thinking approach to business and his work within the dental sector. He talks about the reasons why he wanted to own his own dental practice, his plans for business development and next steps.

He also tells us more about his other business ventures and partnerships – Avant Garde Dentistry, a digital smile design business, and MediForm that is changing up the scrubs game!

This is a great episode with a very focused and driven guest!

Topics:

- Where does your drive come from?

- What did boxing teach you that you have taken with you into business?

- Was owning a dental practice a given for you?

- The changes you wanted to bring about into dentistry

- What’s the big picture for Dental Excellence (practice & lab)?

- Avant Garde Dentistry: how far are we into the digitisation of dentistry based on what you’re seeing?

- MediForm: what was available on the market that you wanted to fix?

- What is the biggest mistake you’ve made?

This week in the Dentology Podcast Andy and Chris discuss the principles of management.

Management is an important part of any business as without a strong and reliable management team to deliver the company vision and ensure effective processes are in place, it won’t succeed.

In this podcast episode Chris and Andy also explore the four characteristics of management and discuss why every business needs effective managers to achieve results.

To hear more from Chris and Andy, have a listen to this episode.

Topics:

- What is management?

- How does management differ to leadership?

- The importance of having a good management team

- The four characteristics of management

- Why management is vital to achieve results

In this week’s episode of Dentology, Andy and Chris chat to Alfonso Rao, co-founder of Apollonia Clinics.

Alfonso tells us about life growing up in Italy, the influences that drew him to a career in dentistry and how dental practices differ in Italy and the UK. He shares the reasons he moved to the UK, why he chose to base himself in Bristol and how he only learnt to speak English some 12 years ago!

Now the owner of 8 dental practices, Alfonso tells Chris and Andy about life being his own boss and what his plans are for the future growth of his dental practice group. He also talks about the importance of maintaining a good work life balance and shares details of his new venture, the Delta Dental Academy, where is now focusing on teaching others in the profession.

A great episode – enjoy.

Topics:

- Your childhood in Italy

- Why dentistry?

- How does dentistry different between Italy and the UK?

- Moving to the UK

- Opening your first practice

- What is life like working in one of your practices?

- How do you maintain a good work life balance?

- The Delta Dental Academy

In this week’s episode of Dentology, Andy and Chris chat to Nicola Gore, principal at Totteridge Dental Studio.

With so many roles to juggle, from being a mum of two, long-standing VT/FD Trainer, owner of two dental practices, publisher of a dental book, and founder of the British Iran Dental Association (BIDA), Nicola shares her story and achievements with Chris and Andy in this latest podcast episode.

She tells Chris and Andy about her background growing up in the UK and Iran and explains what drove her to pursue a career in dentistry. She also shares some great advice for younger people thinking about dentistry as a profession and explains what her teaching role entails.

Finally, having recently written and published a book “Dentistry in a Nutshell”, a practical guide to clinical dentistry, Nicola tells Chris and Andy about her book, her work as founder of the BIDA and what’s next on the horizon for her!

Topics:

- Tell us about your background & childhood

- Pathway to the UK

- Any advice to younger people thinking about a career in dentistry?

- Your role as a Foundation Dentist Trainer

- Who are your mentors?

- Your book “Dentistry in a Nutshell”

- The British Iran Dental Association

- Working alongside your husband

- How do you juggle your time?

This week we welcome Dr Chinwe Akuonu to the Dentology podcast.

Chinwe has been a qualified hygienist for almost 10 years having qualified in Italy in 2013 and is now successfully pursuing a career as a Dentist since qualifying from Kings College in 2021.

In this episode of Dentology, Chinwe tells us more about her early days and journey to the UK and explains the key factors that have driven her towards a career in dentistry. She also shares more on her success at winning the KCL Patient Consideration Prize in 2020 and gives us her tips and advice on how best to manage dental anxiety.

Chinwe is a currently a Key Opinion Leader with Colgate, so we look forward to hearing more about the exciting projects she has coming up!

Definitely an episode not to be missed!

Topics:

- Your story & journey to the UK

- The driver to pursue a career in dentistry

- Tips for managing dental anxiety

- Describe a typical working week

- Being a Key Opinion Leader with Colgate

- Any exciting new projects?

- Describe the toughest thing you’ve been through

- Future career path?

This week in the Dentology Podcast Andy and Chris discuss leadership styles and how these are implemented across different businesses and in different situations. They chat about the importance of having a leadership style that fits with your business and its goals, and how important it is to be authentic in your chosen style. A leadership style isn’t something you can copy from someone else or pretend to have.

To find out more and hear the thoughts of both Chris and Andy, have a listen to this great episode.

Topics:

- What is leadership?

- Examples of some incredible leaders and how their styles differ

- The importance of being authentic

- What are the different styles of leadership?

- How can leadership work in your business/practice?

This week we welcome Nicki Rowland to the Dentology podcast.

Nicki is a well-known face and voice in dentistry and is co-founder of The Exceptional Leadership Academy (ELA), a consultancy and training organisation that supports dental businesses to thrive and grow.

Nicki has over 30 years’ experience working in an NHS and private dental practice setting having set up and run her own award-winning practice for many years. In this episode, Nicki reflects on what it was like to be a practice owner and tells us more about what the key drivers were that led to the decision to sell. She also explains more about the ELA and shares her thoughts on the future of dentistry.

Nicki was nominated into ‘Dentistry’s Top 50’ most influential People in 2021 for her leadership and mentoring support to DCPs across the pandemic – this is a great episode, and one not to be missed!

Topics:

- How did you get into the dental profession?

- Tell us about setting up a practice alongside your husband

- Was it the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

- Did your views about the patient journey differ?

- What was your driver to sell?

- Does everyone immediately know what their purpose is?

- What do you see for the future of dentistry?

- Can dental practices follow a 21st century business model?

Andy and Chris chat to Alex Sharp in this week’s episode of Dentology.

Alex is a qualified dentist and is passionate about enabling dentists to have a better life in dentistry by helping them find the right working environment.

In this episode, Alex talks about how he started out in dentistry and the lessons he’s learnt from various experiences early on in his career that have influenced him to reach where he is today.

He also tells us more about the values that underpin his decisions and approach to both life and work and why personal awareness is so important.

In his quest to support other dentists just like him, Alex has recently started to build a “community” via Facebook that aims to support other associates in similar situations and provide an outlet for those looking to have a better life in dentistry to be able to share experiences and get advice – you can join this group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1152406788923244

And if you’d like to find out more/receive updates you can sign up here https://mailchi.mp/0537464b4db5/careful-healthcare

Topics:

- What drew you to dentistry?

- Career journey

- Lessons learnt

- How did you end up here?

- Core values that underpin big life decisions

- The Facebook community group

- Based on your experience, what do you see as the core problems in dentistry?

- How can these problems be addressed?

- What’s the one thing you’ve figured out that most others probably haven’t?

This week’s guest on the Dentology Podcast is Joe Lovett, founder and director of Catalyst Sales & Marketing.

In this episode, Joe talks to Chris and Andy about his childhood, the importance of family and his pathway into dentistry. From his early days working at FMC rising to Sales Director, through to his decision to spread his wings and set up his own company, Joe talks about the skills he’s learnt along the way, how Catalyst supports dentists and the importance of networking in a business strategy.

Joe also talks about his latest initiative ‘Fast Tracking Your Future’ that offers the dental profession advice and support in exchange for a charity donation and tells us more about the ‘Global Dental Collective’ taking place in September that will give attendees the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on some of the most challenging topics facing dental professionals today. To find out more visit www.globaldentalcollective.com

A great episode and one not to be missed.

Topics:

- The importance of family

- Pathway into dentistry

- Networking & spreading your wings

- How does Catalyst Sales & Marketing support dentists?

- What is the Fast Tracking Your Future initiative?

- What’s your view on the future health of dentistry?

- How do you find the right fit when looking to bring parties together?

This week in the Dentology podcast, Andy and Chris talk to Simon Reynolds, Managing Director of Patient Plan Direct Ltd, the UK’s leading dental plan provider.

Simon tells us about his childhood and his time studying Sports Technology at university and reflects on his early days in business. He goes on to talk about his pathway into the dental world and how he stepped into the role of MD at Patient Plan Direct at the start of this year.

With inevitable changes coming with NHS dentistry, Simon talks about the impact covid has had on Patient Plan Direct clients, how practices have adapted and changed and shares his thoughts for the future of NHS dentistry.

Have a listen to this episode to hear more from Simon.

Topics:

- Childhood and pathway into dentistry

- Cross over of key traits and characteristics from sport to business

- Taking on the role of MD at Patient Plan Direct Ltd

- What’s been the impact of covid for existing clients?

- Has covid changed the typical practice worked with?

- Predictions for the future of NHS dentistry

Andy and Chris chat to Laura Hannon, General Manager of the BDA Benevolent Fund (BDABF), in this week’s episode of the Dentology Podcast.

The BDABF is a charity organisation, established in 1883, that supports dental students, dentists and their families living in the UK.

In this episode, Laura tells Chris and Andy more about the survey conducted between October and November 2021 to explore the financial and well-being issues facing UK dental students and she explains why the charity wanted to undertake such research and what some of the key findings indicate for the sector.

To hear more on the survey results and how the BDABF is supporting students in the profession, have a listen to this episode.

Topics:

• Explain the background to the latest survey

• Is it a new initiative for the BDABF?

• Key findings from the survey

• Is the Covid experience of students likely to have influenced thoughts about dropping out?

• How did those with money worries cope?

• What support is available through the BDABF?

• Is working alongside studying at dental school a good thing?

• The importance of asking for well-being help

• How can the BDABF help students and the wider profession?

More information is also available online on the BDABF Student Page

If you need to apply for financial assistance from the BDABF – click here.

Further information about well-being support can be found here.

Click here to donate directly to the BDABF.

This week in the Dentology Podcast Andy and Chris talk through the common pitfalls of a dental practice sale. If you are selling, this is not a time to learn and plan to get it right next round. For most, this is a one-shot opportunity so you need to get it right. This is a great episode, with lots of great advice for practice owners embarking on the sale journey. To find out more, have a listen to this episode.

Topics:

- Selling up

- The most common pitfalls of a dental practice sale

- Should you pay a fee?

- The importance of working with experts

- Comparables

- The Open Market vs Preferred Buyers?

- Getting a Valuation

Andy and Chris chat to Dr Dev Patel in this week’s episode of Dentology. Dev is a qualified dentist and founder and CEO at Dental Beauty Partners, as well as founder of Dental Circle, the training network for dental professionals.

In this episode, Dev reflects on his early days and tells us about his years growing up, training as a dentist and the moment when he first decided to take the step from clinical dentistry into business leadership, and ultimately group ownership. He also tells us about his remarkable success with his business ventures, in particular Dental Beauty Partners, and what makes him different!

Dev’s story is a great listen for anyone looking for inspiration and motivation to take the leap in their career!

Topics:

- What was your childhood like?

- Was there anyone with entrepreneurial experience in your family for you to learn from?

- Was there a specific moment when your mindset shifted from dentist to group ownership?

- When did you commit to stepping away from clinical dentistry?

- Tell us about your management style

- Have your other ventures helped develop Dental Beauty Group?

- Who inspires you as a business leader?

- What’s the future for Dental Beauty Partners?

This week’s guest on the Dentology Podcast is Manhar Segal, dentist, car enthusiast and ex-principal of Millenium Dentistry in Staffordshire, having recently sold the practice with the help of Frank Taylor & Associates.

In this episode, Manhar recounts his early upbringing and tells us what prompted his decision to start a career in dentistry. Having studied at Guys with several others who are currently leading the way in dentistry, Manhar reflects on what life was like at that time and how he moved from qualifying to becoming a dental practice owner alongside his wife, Aradhna.

Having now sold his practice, Manhar chats about the reasons for the sale and gives us a true insight into what the sales process was really like – something that many of our listeners may one day be going through themselves!

Topics:

- What was your upbringing like?

- Did it feel like you were part of special group at dental school?

- Timeline from qualifying to practice ownership

- The motivation to be a practice owner

- Had you worked alongside your wife previously?

- What was the driver to sell?

- Your experience of the sales process & working with Frank Taylor & Associates

- What’s next?

This week we welcome Dr Mahrukh Khwaja to the Dentology podcast.

Mahrukh is founder and CEO of Mind Ninja; a well-being startup providing resilience and well-being training to dental professionals so they can thrive in any environment. She is also a dentist, with over 11 years’ clinical experience, a positive psychologist, an accredited mindfulness teacher and holds a masters in applied positive psychology.

In this episode, Mahrukh shares her story with us and discusses why she got into dentistry. She talks openly about mental health, explains how we should all manage our mental health better and tells us what she hopes to create in the future to support dental professionals.

Topics:

- The early days…what were you like as a child?

- Why were you drawn to dentistry?

- Why did you feel there was a need for a well-being service for dentists?

- Based on your experience, is this something dentists struggle with?

- Mental health crisis

- Does mental health and well-being discriminate based on sex?

- New book: release date summer 2022 (“Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals”)

Our guest this week on Dentology is Dr Nilesh Parmar, partner at Parmar Dental. Nilesh has a specialist interest in implant dentistry and successfully splits his time between his seven-surgery practice in Southend-On-Sea and a multi-disciplinary practice in Blackheath.

Nilesh is a well-known figure in dentistry having won numerous awards and is an avid sharer of his exploits and work across social media.

In this episode, Nilesh recounts his transition from working in his father’s dental practice to dental school before settling on a career in implantology. One of a few dentists in the UK to have a degree from all three London Dental Schools, education is important to Nilesh and having recently completed his Executive MBA at Imperial College Business School, he talks about the importance of business training and education for dental professionals.

Outside of dentistry, Nilesh loves fast cars and racing and tells us more about his adventures on the track!

Topics:

- Setting the scene & journey into dentistry

- What was dental school like?

- Is dentistry heading towards more specialisms?

- Could we see GDPs providing more triage services?

- Using social media to showcase work and case studies

- Is business training important?

- What does success look like for you?

This week we welcome Mide Ojo to the Dentology podcast.

Mide is the principal and owner of Refresh Dental based in Twickenham, co-founder of the revolutionary smile design service, SmileFast, and founder of the successful Start Up Dental Practice Owners Facebook group.

In this episode Mide tells us more about his exciting journey into practice ownership and the reasons why he decided to start his own practice from a squat rather than buying an existing practice - a viable way to get into practice ownership but one that does require a different approach.

Mide also tells Chris and Andy more about the Start Up in Dentistry Live Event coming up in June that he’s organising that sees the successful Facebook group going from a social platform to an actual live event!

Topics:

- Upbringing and pathway into dentistry

- Squat vs existing practice ownership?

- Challenges faced starting a squat practice?

- Why did you set up the Facebook group?

- Who is the Live Event for and what will the day include?

Welcome to Dr Manrina Rhode, well-known Aesthetic Dental Surgeon in the dental world. In this episode Manrina chats to Chris and Andy about her pathway onto the dental circuit. She shares her story on how she has worked her way to the top building her business and brand and reveals more about what drives her forward in her career.

To hear more about Manrina, have a listen to this episode.

Topics:

• Your pathway into dentistry

• Your career to date

• Do you find it easy to relax outside of work?

• The importance of communication skills

• Wellbeing

• The development of you DRMR skincare range

• How has social media helped build your brand/business?

• Your journey into ownership

• Are you always on the go and looking for new opportunities?

• Your advice to students/young dentists?

• Are you enjoying the journey?