Dental Leaders Podcast

Dentists are leaving the NHS in droves. In this week’s episode, Payman and Prav talk about what it takes to transition from the failing health service into private care.   They chat about some of the training on offer to help dentists get to grips to meet private patients’ expectations, strategies for retaining and transitioning NHS patients, fixing literal and metaphorical cracks - and much more.   There’s plenty for listeners who are already in the private sector, too. Prav and Payman go in-depth on tactics clinics can use to stand out from the competition in a crowded marketplace.   “NHS patients are coming through the door anyway. If one cancels, you'll get another one through the door. But with the private patients, it's a complete shift in mindset. You've now got to earn their business. They've got money in their pocket and they can choose to spend it wherever the hell they want.”   Prav Solanki In This Episode 01.00 - Training for transition 07.52 - Soft skills 12.23 - Reception and customer service 20.41 - Earning patients 23.15 - Fixing cracks and phone coaching 38.33 - USPs, decor and rapport 48.45 - Treatment plan acceptance 51.45 - The art of storytelling 53.27 - Putting training into practice 01.01.48 - The definition of success

When Nicola Gore found her squat practice taking off, she found a novel way of staffing the booming clinic - by persuading her husband to become a dental therapist.   She tells the whole story along with her heartbreaking decision to sell. And we’ll also hear how Nicola cut her teeth in the brutal make-or-break environment of a busy surgical ward before finally realising her dream of completing the MClinDent.   Nicola lifts the lid on her best selling book Dentistry in a Nutshell, co-authored with last week’s guest Raabhia Maan, discusses her time in Australia and much more.   Enjoy!     “I thought, ‘I can't do this anymore. This job is killing me.’ I lost so much weight and had so many sleepless nights learning to put vent-flows in, trying to find beds for trauma patients, opening the clinic on my own at three a.m to stitch people’s lips and thinking, ‘oh my god, how’s it going to turn out?  Are they going to look OK or disfigured?’ It was a big learning curve, but when I left the place, I said, ‘you can proudly raise your head and say: ‘You are Nicola Gore now,’ because I went through it all.”   Nicola Gore In This Episode 02.55 - Backstory 13.55 - Guy’s 17.27 - VT, first boss and early work 24.32 - Oral surgery 31.45 - Australia 41.16 - An offer from London 47.25 - The squat 56.06 - From surviving to thriving 58.31 - Social media, sharing, training and support 01.13.56 - Blackbox thinking 01.22.27 - The next generation 01.24.11 - Dentistry in a Nutshell 01.30.40 - Last days and legacy About Nicola Gore Nicola Gore qualified from Guy’s in 1993. She completed the MClinDent in 2000 and became a vocational trainer in 2004.   She is the owner of Totteridge Dental Studio and practices at Harrow Weald Dental Dental Practice, of which she is the former owner.   In 2021, she was highly commended at The Probe Dental Awards for her contribution to dentistry during the COVID 19 pandemic.   She runs an educational YouTube channel and is also prolific across social media. Nicola co-authored the bestselling Dentistry in a Nutshell textbook with fellow dentist and influencer Raabhia Maan.   She is a member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) and the British Society of Prosthetic Dentistry and president of the British Iranian Dental Association.

A dentist who’s nervous about dental appointments; a prolific content creator and social star who professes to be a private person; and a high achiever who reckons she’s the failure of the family. It would be fair to describe Raabhia Maan as something of an enigma.   Raabhia is perhaps best known as the social content creator who posts about everything from MRONJ to meditation.   She chats about motherhood, buying a practice and her textbook Dentistry in a Nutshell, which she co-authored with previous podcast guest Nicola Gore.   Enjoy!      “I was in my appointment with my dentist, and he was about to give me a filling and I said to him, ‘I'm going to be a dentist but I'm not going to be a scary one.’” And he just started laughing at me.”   Raabiha Maan   01.12 - Busy busy! 04.13 - Backstory 11.19 - Dental school syllabus 14.10 - Into practice 19.08 - Content creation 27.45 - The gnash bash 32.10 - Practice purchase 39.20 - Being a mum 43.46 - Dentistry in a Nutshell 46.50 - Philanthropy and philosophy 52.11 - Blackbox thinking 01.01.00 - Dentistry, teaching and experience 01.06.46 - Boundaries and responsibilities 01.08.24 - Future plans 01.09.43 - Last days and legacy 01.11.35 - Fantasy dinner party About Raabhia Maan Raabhia Maan graduated from Bart’s and the London School of Medicine with honours and quickly found her way into teaching as a dental foundation trainer for North East London. She also provides clinical mentoring for international dentists who relocate to the UK and gives regular lectures and webinars.   Raabhia is co-author of Dentistry in a Nutshell, a best-selling guide to dentistry, and regularly posts about dental topics on Instagram as @drraabihamaan where she has more than 10K followers.   Raabhia practices at Bridge Dental in Isleworth and has been shortlisted multiple several times for The Dentistry Awards’ Best Young Dentist title.

In the first podcast of 2022, we welcome composite king Matt Parsons to the show.    Matt practices in the world’s composite capital, Liverpool, where a strong social presence has made him one of the city’s most in-demand dentists.   Matt tells all about Liverpool life, dishing essential tips on composites, lifts the lid on his year in practice down under and reveals how an Instagram competition took his list to heady new heights almost overnight.   Enjoy!   “My friend Benji said to me one day: “I'm going to be a dentist when I'm older.” We were like 11 years old and I said, “cool, so do I…” And that was the day I decided.”   Matt Parsons In This Episode 02.21 - Backstory 05.46 - Dental school 07.15 - VT 09.08 - Australia 15.22 - Composites 23.05 - Instagram 33.11 - What patients want 45.48 - Composite milestones and technique  53.07 - Clinical tips 01.00.16 - Managing teams 01.03.36 - Blackbox thinking 01.11.46 - Confidence 01.15.45 - Parents and family 01.18.46 - Future plans 01.22.10 - Back teeth 01.25.04 - Contentment 01.27.34 - Last days and legacy 01.31.22 - Fantasy dinner parties  About Matt Parsons Matt graduated in 2013 from Liverpool Dental School, where he was elected student president.   He carried out VT training in North Wales. He gained membership of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians, Glasgow, before travelling internationally and spending a year in practice in Melbourne Australia.   Upon returning to the UK in 2016, Matt developed an interest in cosmetic dentistry and composite bonding. His work has helped him develop a large Instagram following and he now teaches bonding to other dentists.   Matt practices at Duthie Dental in Liverpool and Ruh Dental in Manchester.

This isn’t the first conversation with a guest that hails from a family of dentists. But for Tom-Crawford Clarke, the connection is more than just a hand-me-down: Tom’s grandparents, mum, dad, sisters, uncles and cousins have all been in the profession.    As Tom looks back on a decade on dentistry, he chats with Payman about the pressures and pitfalls of working with relatives, his meteoric rise from VT to Harley Street and using social media to build a patient list.   He also dishes out essential tips on Invisalign treatment and reveals why a certain oft-divorced monarch would make the ideal dinner party guest.   Enjoy!   “Patients don't always know what they want. They come in asking for something and it's your job to educate them and show them that what they're asking for is not going to look right…You always want to have total confidence in what you're doing from the very start.”   Tom Crawford-Clarke In This Episode 01.43 - Backstory 07.33 - In the family 10.35 - From VT to Harley Street 18.35 - Advertising and social media 30.32 - Patient journey and workflow 39.37 - Implants 41.41 - Invisalign top tips 46.06 - Bonding 49.47 - Blackbox thinking 57.49 - Future plans 01.00.50 - Confidence and communication 01.04.11 - Small world 01.07.14 - GDC 01.10.35 - Leadership style 01.12.22 - A hypothetical day off 01.14.30 - Last days and legacy 01.18.04 - Fantasy dinner party   About Tom Crawford-Clarke Tom Crawford-Clarke graduated from Bristol University in 2010. He went on to gain a diploma in restorative dentistry with a special interest in endodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2014.   He has undertaken extensive training in restorative dentistry, implantology, Invisalign, orthodontics and composite dentistry.   Tom was named Best Young Private Dentist at the 2019 Dentistry Awards. He sits on the committee of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and currently practices on Harley Street.

If you’re one of the many listeners wondering where Prav has been hiding, all will be revealed in this week’s episode.   In this end-of-year special, Prav returns to let us know why the past three months have been the most stressful and intensive of his career.   If you’re thinking of buying or selling a practice, or wondering how to start putting an exit strategy together, you won’t want to miss this one.   Enjoy!   “The best deal on the table is not the most money, the best deal on the table is the right deal for you”. Prav Solanki In This Episode 01.52 - Where’s Prav been? 04.11 - The process and perfectionism 07.41 - Planning and goals 11.47 - Roles and responsibilities 16.47 - The exit process explained 22.25 - Options and getting the best deal 30.04 - Due diligence 39.15 - COVID, costs and practice growth 49.53 - Adapting to changing economics 57.37 - Fantasy dinner party

Alan Burgin is perhaps best known by his Instagram alter-ego, The Cornish Dentist, whose informative how-tos have earned Alan an impressive follower count among fellow professionals.   He sits down with Cardiff University alumni Payman to explain his journey to being one of the UK’s most promising young dentists and talks about life in Cornwall and early years in max-fax.   Payman also puts Alan on the spot about rubber-dam placement, suturing and composites.   Enjoy!   “The majority of my career and progression has basically been a series of high-pressure situations that are sink or swim, and so far I've been swimming. But some of them - I think - were close to the mark.”   Alan Burgin In This Episode 01.41 - Backstory 07.04 - Confidence 10.15 - Cardiff and dental school 14.09 - Max-fax and oral surgery 21.54 - Travel 27.43 - First job 29.28 - Implants 37.39 - Social media 44.40 - Cornwall 46.48 - Phobia and sedation dentistry 48.30 - Full-mouth dentistry and stabilisation 55.11 - Finding and teaching your niche 01.02.17 - Rapidfire top tips 01.06.39 - Blackbox thinking 01.17.18 - Future plans 01.19.20 - Last days and legacy About Alan Burgin Alan graduated with honours from Cardiff University in 2012 and took on a post as a senior maxillofacial house officer at Newport Gwent hospital.   He practised in Wales and bath before settling in Cornwall, where he practices at Pure dental, focusing on full-mouth rehabilitation.   Alan has amassed 10K+ followers as Instagram’s The Cornish Dentist,

General dentist Victoria Sampson followed her big sister Ariane into dentistry but each has since walked their own path through the profession.   Ariane is an orthodontist, while Victoria is using the microbiome found in saliva to unite dentistry with general health.    The pair talk about their shared journey, discuss their passions and assemble the unusual guestlist for a fantasy dinner party.   Enjoy!     “I want world bacterial peace. That would be the dream.” Victoria Sampson  In This Episode 02.20 - Backstory 06.38 - Dental school 13.24 - Next steps 17.53 - Victoria talks microbiome research 27.42 - Ariane talks orthodontics and social media 41.00 - Blackbox thinking 54.49 - On regrets 58.05 - Ortho skills and ABB 01.02.59 - Invisalign 01.05.09 - World bacterial peace 01.08.49 - Last days and legacy 01.11.29 - Fantasy dinner parties About Ariane and Victoria Sampson Sisters Ariane and Victoria Sampson are perhaps best known by their Instagram moniker, thedentalsisters.    They practice at London’s 38 Devonshire Street where Ariane is an orthodontist and Victoria focuses on general dentistry.  

No one could accuse Jenni Kabir of being anything but quick off the mark in finding success. She purchased her first practice just six months after finishing VT and was considering retirement by the time she hit her mid-20s.   Jenny takes us through her impoverished upbringing in York, where she became a full-time young carer after her mother sustained life-changing injuries. She describes how she dealt with a shocking violation of trust from an associate, reveals why she often hesitates before treating lawyers and much more.    Enjoy!   “If you've heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, I really feel I’m at a point in my life where I've got enough...I want to give back and empower other people in whatever capacity I can.” Jenni Kabir In This Episode 02.52 - Backstory 08.49 - Into dental school 11.29 - Adversity and confidence 14.02 - Leaving mum behind 17.17 - VT, first jobs and practice ownership 24.26 - Starting again 27.30 - North Vs South 29.27 - Building Fresh Dental 33.32 - A violation of trust 41.08 - Blackbox thinking 50.49 - Women and implantology 53.14 - On mentors 56.15 - Teaching, B&Bs, car washes and diversification 01.04.27 - Motivation and leadership 01.06.59  - Future plans and pride 01.09.36 - Last days and legacy About Jenni Kabir Dr Jenni Kabir studied in Manchester, where she ran a chain of successful clinics before returning to her hometown of York to set up Fresh Smiles Dental Clinic.   She is one of the youngest dentists to be awarded DPDS postgraduate diploma from the University of Bristol and holds a diploma in implant dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons.    Jenni was selected to be the dentist for the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2001 and the London Olympic games in 2012. She is currently undertaking a masters degree in implantology.  

This week’s episode starts with a content warning: When brewing tea, Tej Mell pours the milk first.     It’s just one of many tidbits the Yorkshire-based dentist lets us in on in a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from managing and motivating teams to the appreciation of clockwork and watches.   Tej tells us about starting his journey into implant treatment and why the third time was a charm when it came to finding success as a practice owner.   He also lifts the lid on his decision to stand in the upcoming BDA elections.   Enjoy!    “Why dentistry? I’ll be honest with you  In This Episode 02.27 - Backstory 05.48 - Superpowers 07.01 - First job, first boss, first practice 09.25 - Selling up 17.20 - Lessons learned 19.12 - Practice number two 23.35 - Third time lucky 26.51 - Time, peace and limitations 27.46 - Starting with implants 35.39 - Advice for new practice owners 41.41 - Firing 45.32 - Career progression, bonuses and motivation 53.28 - BDA elections and the future of NHS dentistry 01.04.20 - Watches 01.11.18 - Tea 01.12.30 - Last days, legacy and dinner guests About Tej Mellachervu Dr Tej Mellachervu (Mell) graduated from Leeds University in 2001 and went into practice around Yorkshire before purchasing and selling two practices. He is now the principal dentist and owner of Crigglestone Dental Care in Wakefield, Yorkshire.