Dental Leaders Podcast

Dentist have some of the highest rates of suicide, addiction and mental health problems. It is a stigma and a taboo both in the profession and in society Our guest is Sheetal Jain a dentist and mother of 3 young children who has suffered with an eating disorder and alcohol dependence and is now on a journey to recovery In a frank and sensitive discussion Sheetal goes into her childhood marked by her father’s untimely death, a trigger for expectations set for herself which led to her eating disorder and subsequently her addiction and recovery

Artur Zolkiewicz is one of the country’s most in-demand personal trainers.    In this week’s Mind Movers, he sits down for a chat with Rhoma and Payman on the discipline of martial arts, a lack of positive role models for young men, and how he deals with the stereotypes around being a fitness practitioner.   Artur, Rhona and Payman also chat about the power of emotional intelligence and dealing with trolls. Artur also gives some invaluable insight into practical steps listeners can take to improve health and well-being.   Enjoy!    In This Episode 01.38 - Growing up 05.30 - Discipline, martial arts and dentistry 14.09 - Empathy and emotional intelligence 21.19 - Body image, fitness and privilege 37.32 - Male role models, safe spaces and evolution 01.02.14 - Fitness and stereotypes 01.08.42 - Trolling and trauma 01.15.40 - Practical health and well-being About Artur Zolkiewicz Personal trainer Artur Zolkiewicz has over two decades of experience working with organisations and private individuals to help them improve fitness and well-being.

Few disciplines in dentistry divide clinicians like endodontics, but Asad Rahman knew it was his calling by year three of dental school.   In this week’s episode, Asad talks about falling in love with endodontics, the road to expertise and becoming qualified to the hilt as an antidote to imposter syndrome.   Asad also chats about his role with the Portman group, in which he straddles the corporate and clinical worlds, and his journey to mastering the business aspects of the profession by squeezing study for an MBA into a punishing work schedule.   Enjoy!  In This Episode 02.06 - Backstory, determination and mindset 09.28 - Race 11.12 - First job 16.40 - Advice to young dentists 24.11 - Choosing and training for endodontics 33.35 - Anaesthesia and sedation 36.01 - Latest developments 38.27 - Hero-dontics 41.02 - Pricing strategies 45.08 - Corporate and clinical leadership 01.00.09 - Psychometric testing 01.03.26 - Family life 01.09.56 - Black box thinking 01.27.53 - Portman 01.40.29 - Reflections on dad 01.43.52 - Fantasy dinner party 01.46.53 - Last days and legacy About Asad Rahman  Dr Asad Rahman graduated from the University of Leeds in 2015 and has devoted himself to postgraduate study alongside clinical practice in endodontics.     He has undertaken MJDF and MFDS qualifications to gain membership in the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He has also completed a year-long Post Graduate Certificate in clinical conscious sedation at the University of Bristol.    In 2020, Asad graduated from the University of Birmingham with a two-year postgraduate diploma in restorative dentistry.   He is currently studying for master’s degrees in endodontics and business administration.  

Known to friends and colleagues as The FMR Guy, Dr Devang Patel is considered an authority on the science of full mouth rehabilitation, whose courses and lectures have helped hundreds of clinicians get to grips with complex treatment.   In this week’s episode, Devang chats with Prav about how it all started, recalling his unorthodox entry into dental school in India and a reluctant move to the UK.   He gives his thoughts on what it takes to rise to the to provide full-mouth rehabilitation, gives advice for those just getting started, and reveals why even the fantasy kind of dinner party is an engagement he would rather avoid.   Enjoy!  In This Episode 01.55 - Implementation and execution 04.37 - Backstory 17.13 - University 28.26 - London and first work 37.06 - Holidays, time off  41.16 - Motivation, MSc and marriage 50.25 - Teaching, practice ownership and career development 59.39 - Delivering FMR and training 01.12.12 - Last days and legacy 01.20.37 - Fantasy dinner party About Devang Patel Dev graduated in 2004 and completed a one-year full-time MSc at Eastman Dental Institute, where he was awarded a distinction and the postgraduate prize for clinical and academic excellence.   He is an honorary senior clinical teaching fellow at UCL Eastman Dental Institute and has served as a deputy examiner for the GDC’s Overseas Registration exam.   Devang now provides training to fellow clinicians on full-mouth rehabilitation.

Payman goes live this week from the busy launch event of Mahrukh Khwaja’s new book, Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals.   He was lucky enough to catch Mahrukh for a whistlestop chat on the process of writing the book, the importance of factoring well-being into work and team culture, and it matters now more than ever.    In This Episode 01.42 - Writing and pitching 04.53 - The value of therapy 06.36 - Work culture and mental wellbeing 15.44 - Suicide rates in dentistry About Mahrukh Khwaja  Dr. Mahrukh Khwaja is a dentist, positive psychologist and mindfulness teacher. She founded Mind Ninja—a wellness startup dedicated to improving mental health and resilience among dental professionals.    Her book Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals is published by Wiley Blackwell and available from major book retailers.  

Emerging AI technologies are set to transform dentistry—and this week’s guest is at the vanguard of the seachange.   Ophir Tanz says artificial intelligence won’t replace dentists but will support and free them to focus on patients and clinical time.   His latest project, Pearl, is already providing AI diagnostic support to a profession that carries out more radiography than any other medical discipline.   Ophir explores the potential use cases for AI in dentistry, shares thoughts on the regulatory landscape and gives the lowdown on the challenges of training diagnostic AI in an industry with a surprisingly inconsistent approach to identifying and treating pathologies.   Enjoy!     In This Episode 02:05 - AI, GumGum and Pearl 09.50 - Use cases: data and pathologies 13.51 - Training AI 17.13 - Neural networks 21.10 - Patient communication and case acceptance 22.31 - Regulatory hurdles 24.14 - Early detection and diagnosis 26.50 - Future applications 29.46 - Pricing and distribution models 32.54 - Ophir’s story 34.48 - Drive and five-year horizon 38.04 - Superpowers 42.09 - Blackbox thinking 50.13 - Competition 52.39 - Highs and lows 56.58 - Business inspirations 57.57 - Last days and legacy 01.03.02 - Fantasy dinner party About Ophir Tanz Ophir Tanz is the founder of Pearl—a provider of AI-powered diagnosis and practice performance software for dentists.   He previously founded successful interactive and AI brands in media, branding and mobile spaces.  

Following the sad news of her untimely passing on September 15, 2023, here’s a chance to remind ourselves why Uchenna Okoye was one of the UK dentistry’s most beloved personalities.   Originally broadcast in December 2020, the episode touches on Uchenna’s London Smiling group of clinics and ITV and Channel 4 TV roles for which she will be remembered.  “I don't understand the jealousy and all that nonsense. There's enough teeth for everybody.”  Uchenna Okoye In This Episode 01.12 - Backstory 05.19 - Race and gender 24.01 - Cosmetic dentistry 26.44 - TV and PR 32.21 - Fitting in 36.21- Patient journey 43.21 - Training 50.31 - Motherhood 55.34 - Day in the life 58.52 - Being strict 01.04.38 - Being a brand 01.14.25 - Legacy About Dr Uchenna Okoye Cosmetic dentist was the founder of the London Smiling group of clinics.   She was a frequent contributor to radio and TV, best known for her role on Channel Four’s Ten Years Younger and ITV’s This Morning. Uchenna passed away on September 15, 2023.  

Payman kicks off this episode by discussing why it took Ten Dental founder Nik Sisodia to sit down for a chat on Dental Leaders.   But a quick look at Nik’s prolific achievements explains why he hasn’t found the time: As well as founding one of the capital’s most successful groups of clinics, Nik has also found time to steer the BACD and BARD while carving a name as a highly sought-after implant clinician and educator.   Nik tells the Ten Dental story, discusses his involvement with dental associations, and reveals why every dentist should occasionally sit down in their own chair to gaze at the ceiling.   Enjoy!   In This Episode 02.13 - Backstory 11.01 - Ten Dental 29.44 - Experience and a-ha moments 43.30 - The implant market 45.21 - Group structure, talent and location 55.07 - Listening and chairside manner 57.50 - Blackbox thinking 01.10.57 - Looking back 01.14.36 - Loves and hates 01.32.22 - BACD & BAAD 01.36.18 - Retirement and exiting 01.40.16 - Fantasy dinner party 01.44.53 - Last days and legacy About Nik Sisodia Nik Sisodia graduated from Bristol University in 1995 and co-founded Ten Dental alongside Martin Wanendeya.   He is a prolific lecturer and mentor on implant and restorative dentistry.   Nik is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He is a member of the International Team for Implantology, the Association of Dental Implantology, the British Association of Aesthetic Dentistry and the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry.   He is also a former president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.  

Patient acquisition can feel like a minefield. If you’re wondering which advertising platform gives the best return on your marketing spend or how to generate and follow up leads, marketing scientist Prav Solanki has the answers.   In this solo show, Prav answers some of the most commonly asked questions about lead generation, giving insight into practice websites versus dedicated landing pages and why measuring ROI is a long-term game.   Enjoy!     04.55 - Facebook Vs Google ads 22.06 - Websites Vs landing pages 30.40 - Conversions and long-term ROI  

One profession is more than enough for most clinicians. So, how does Rav Moore find the time to squeeze in dual acting and modelling careers alongside dentistry?   He explains how in this week’s episode. Rav also chats with Payman about the insecurities of being an actor and how the craft informs his daily practice as a dentist.   Enjoy!  In This Episode 01:01 - Discovering acting 07.10 - Revered actors and directors 11.44 - Cinemas 13.19 - Blackbox thinking 20.08 - The darker side of acting 30.17 - Communication 40.36 - Fantasy dinner party 43.58 - Last days and legacy About Rav Moore Rav Moore divides his time between dental practice, modelling and acting. He has appeared in Bollywood Jane at Curve Leicester and in advertisements for Wilkinson Sword, the Highways Agence, Virgin Media, and Dental Protection.