Dental Leaders Podcast

If anyone was born to be a dentist, it’s this week’s guest. Avi Sachdev is a surgeon with Croydon’s Gentle Dental Group, which he co-owns and runs with dad Kam, brother Mish and other family members. The eight-clinic group is the very definition of a family-owned business.  Avi lets us in on what working with family, talks us through life under lockdown and shares ideas about how UK dentistry could benefit from a more unified approach. Enjoy! “Always use Enlighten.” Avi Sachdev In This Episode 29.00 - Family business11.52 - Running the group16.42 - Avi in lockdown21.40 - New whys24.20 - Acquisitions28.06 - Family, roles and recruitment31.54 - Advice to associates37.49 - Clinical tips41.25 - CEREC43.34 - Blackbox thinking54.18 - Croydon Dental Seminars57.14 - In an ideal world01.05.20 - No-fear mentality01.07.40 - Avi’s plans01.13.34 - Last day and posterity About Avi Sachdev Avi Sachdev graduated from King’s College London and gained his MFDS from the Royal College of Surgeon in Edinburgh. He went on to complete a master’s degree with the University of Kent. He is a surgeon at Gentle Dental, a family-owned group of eight clinics based in Croydon.

You’d never know that this week’s guest was a man without a plan when he first arrived on UK shores from native Italy some 11 years ago. Since then, Dr Alfonso Rao has launched an expanding group of clinics and a dental training academy while also building a name as one of the Southwest’s foremost implant dentists. And he’s achieved all of this before the age of 40, seemingly without ruffling a single feather. We probe Alfonso on the secrets of his success, life in the UK, work-life balance and much more. Enjoy!    “I don't really often like to be told what to do. If someone tells me and explains to me and I see the reason I'm fine. But if someone says, “you have to do that because it is the way you have to do it,” I'm not too good following.” - Alfonso Rao  In This Episode 01.19 - Backstory08.27 - Italy vs the UK11.28 - Practice ownership, expansion and work-life balance19.48 - Teaching 24.37 - The plan29.00 - Associates32.03 - On mistakes37.09 - Out of the clinic40.11 - Thinking of Italy43.37 - USPs45.08 - Exit strategy46.21 - Last day on earth About Alfonso Rao Alfonso Rao graduated from the University of Chieti in 2007 and spent time in practice in Italy before moving to the UK. He opened a series of clinics in Bristol and Portishead which he later consolidated under the Apollonia Group brand. He also founded the Delta Training Academy - a leading dental and implantology training centre. Alfonso is a member of the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry and the Association of Dental Implantology. He is also a key opinion leader and brand ambassador for Strauman, Geitlich, NSK and several other dental technology brands.

In the business of buying and selling practices, this week’s guest is the dental leader. Back in 2000, Andy Acton co-acquired Frank Taylor & Associates (FTA), which he went on to grow into the UK’s leading name in dental practice acquisition, valuation, development and sales. Andy takes us through the business’ early years, explains how COVID has effected the market and dispenses an encyclopedia’s-worth of wisdom on purchasing and growing practices. Enjoy! “The craziest situation I've ever had...is somebody bought a practice and - I kid you not - he went and changed his name by deed poll to the name of the person he bought the practice from.” Andy Acton     In This Episode 00.55 - Buying the business08.32 - The competition14.11 - Selling for free17.10 - Deregulation20.45 - Signs and scenarios27.42 - Deferred income33.06 - COVID and acquisitions40.43 - Then, now, growth48.31 - Darkest day in business52.16 - Squats, small practices ambition01.02.14 - Super associates01.04.23 - Owning a practice01.06.03 - Last day on earth About Andy Acton Entrepreneur Andy Acton is a director of the FTA group of companies providing business services for dentistry. The group now incorporates FTA Finance, FTA Wealth and Management, FTA Law, FTA recruitment and FTA media. Andy is also a popular public speaker on leadership, management and practice development.

Reader’s around orthodontics will be familiar with this week’s guest and author of one of the best blogs around. Kevin O’Brien’s Orthodontic Blog is an exploration of orthodontic issues and debunking of some of the bad science,  These subjects are just a small part of today’s discussion. The professor emeritus in orthodontics and former dean of the University of Manchester talks us through his student days in the city. We also chat about the limitations of orthodontic training, the state of play in the UK Vs the rest of the world, and much more. Enjoy!  In This Episode 01.36 - Backstory08.05 - UK Vs the US11.06 - Deanery, teaching and academia21.29 - GDC27.13 - GDPs and ortho34.02 - Aligner science and new treatments41.42 - On limitations44.26 - The blog55.02 - Ortho for cosmetics and health01.00.35 - The future of orthodontics01.05.19 - A quick plug01.05.34 - Last day on earth When you look at trials of surgery, for example, it is not necessarily always the technique that comes up with the best results. It's the skill and the care of the surgeon. And that's the same with orthodontics. Prof. Kevin O’Brien About Kevin O’Brien Prof. Kevin O’Brien is a former Dean and current professor emeritus in orthodontics at Manchester University. He is also a former chair of the General Dental Council and the author of Kevin O’Brien’s Orthodontic Blog - an ‘occasionally irregular’ exploration of evidence-based orthodontics.   

In one of our most packed episodes to date, we catch up with Love Teeth’s Kunal ‘Dr K’ Patel.   Kunal lets us in on his early days as an angry young man, his unusual entry to dentistry via training in the Czech Republic and how a seemingly routine job interview at his Cheam practice changed everything.    And it’s an unplanned double-bill as Kunal’s wife and co-entrepreneur Lucy Patel sets the record straight.   Enjoy!   We're like Pinky and the Brain. We wake up and say, "What's the plan today?" And he goes, "Take over the world." Lucy Patel In This Episode 01.31 - Early years 06.50 - Reality Czech 13.53 - Back in the UK 17.56 - Purchasing a practice 22.07 - Making friends and influencing 26.26 - Love Teeth and being seen 35.46 - Building value 42.14 - Wedding Smiles 46.02 - On marketing 48.07 - Love at first sight 01.08.48 - Finding fame 01.18.34 - Lucy enters the fray 01.20.42 - Love at first sight - Lucy’s version 01.27.24 - Team happiness 01.32.05 - Future plans 01.36.40 - The Love Teeth experience 01.42.14 - Family life 01.49.44 - The question About Lucy and Kunal Kunal Patel is the owner of Love Teeth dental clinic is Cheam Surrey. He is an Invisalign Apex provider and a FastBraces Senior Master Affiliate. He also runs the successful Wedding Smiles brand.     Lucy Patel is a dental nurse, aesthetic therapist and manager at Love Teeth.

There’s no love like brotherly love. And there’s plenty on tap in this week’s episode, as we welcome Kailesh Solanki, brother of podcast host Prav.   Kailesh talks about his journey from growing up in Manchester in the shadow of his elder brother to forging his own path as one of the UK’s busiest and most prolific dentists.   Warning: As Kailesh lets us in on some of the secrets of his success, there will be expletives and maybe even some tears.    Enjoy!   “I made friends with my breadman who delivered bread at the shop, and one of his really close friends was a dentist. So he said, "Why don't you go and see my mate. He's a dentist, he does super well, he's got the best Mercedes in the golf club. The guy's chilling. He does two days a week." I was like: “Let's have a look.” Kailesh Solanki In This Episode 00.51 - Backstory 15.04 - Into practice 21.32 - Kailesh’s secret 23.50 - A day in the life 28.47 - Being prolific, polymathic 36.22 - On failure, success and mentoring 47.06 - KissDental and family business 57.51 - A traumatic experience 01.06.08 - Future plans 01.10.41 - Efficiency hacks 01.16.53 - The dream 01.30.42 - Advice for the next generation About Kailesh Solanki Kailesh Solanki graduated from Manchester University in 2003 and went on to gain implantology qualifications.   In 2005, Kailesh purchased a practice in central Manchester which he rebranded under the KissDental moniker and quickly expanded the clinic to a group of three.  

Talk about a work ethic - this week’s guest redefines the term.    Facebook users may recognise Lauren ‘Sparkle’ Harrhy as the founding member of Mental Dental - a forum set up to support dentists with all aspects of mental health.   But that’s just one of many hats. Lauren tells us all about Mental Dental and her helpline charity Confidential. She lets us in on how her family background has shaped her philanthropic outlook and reveals how her own professional burnout inspired her to help others.   Lauren also tells us about her work within the BDA - and why it’s important to maintain a local outlook.   Enjoy!      “I like to be on the go. I like to help. If there's an opportunity, then I'll take it. Because I think that if we've got the option to help, if we've got the ability to help people, then we should.” Lauren Harrhy In This Episode 00.59 - Family and backstory 13.08 - Lockdown and being in the thick of it 18.58 - Mental Dental 22.08 - Burnouts and breakdowns 27.45 - Confidential 35.11 - Switching off 37.33 - BDA 46.05 - Cardiff 50.31 - Contributing 54.34 - Lauren’s last day About Lauren Harrhy Lauren Harrhy graduated from Cardiff University in 2009 and is now the owner of Sparkle Dental Centre in Pontypool, South Wales.   Lauren has helped to set up and run the Mental Dental Facebook group and Confidential charity helpline - both of which support dental professionals with mental health concerns.   Lauren is vice-chair of the British Dental Association’s (BDA’s) Young Dentists Committee and South East Wales representative of the BDA’s General Dentistry Practice Committee (GDPC). She also sits on the Welsh Dental Council.

In this week’s extra special episode, previous guest Druh Shah turns the tables on Prav and Payman, playing host while they take the hot seat.    And it turns out this isn’t the first time the pair have switched.   Before finding success as dental entrepreneurs and podcast hosts, Payman was all set for a career in general practice, while Prav seemed destined for great things in the world of research science.   Here they talk about making the switch, early days, inspiration and their respective journeys to becoming dental leaders in their own right.   Enjoy!    “This is a proper switch because [Prav] did a switch from pharmacology to marketing and Payman did the switch from dentistry to building a business and you guys have switched me into a host…” Druh Shah In This Episode 02.31 - Backstories 24.36 - Down to business 39.32 - Influence and inspiration 48.23 - Starting Dental Leaders 57.19 - On fatherhood 01.00.26 - A peek into the future About Prav and Payman Payman Langroudi started his early career as a dentist before creating leading whitening brand Enlighten.    Former research scientist Prav Solanki is the director of a national dental chain, a successful health and fitness brand and IAS Academy dental training institute. He is also director of The Fresh marketing and growth consultancy.   Prav and Payman are hosts of the Dental Leaders podcast.

The description of dynamo doesn’t quite do justice to this week’s guest, Zuber ‘Zubz’ Bagasi.   Bolton born and bred Zuber has already opened eight practices - all before age 40 and without ever borrowing a single penny.   And Zuber’s not about to stop.   He fills us in on future plans, lets us in on his inspiration and gives an insight into what it’s like being one of dentistry’s most driven.   Enjoy!    “If you have that structure, then you as a person, you've got a life. And what's more important in your life, is to make sure that you are enjoying it, that's the first thing. Otherwise, life's not worth living.” Zuber Bagasi In This Episode 01.17 - Backstory 07.56 - Mentors 13.41 - Expanding the empire 20.50 - Systems and processes 29.27  - Work/life balance 37.10 - A scratch of the nose 40.34 - Get up and go 46.41- Higher purpose 52.00 - Future plans 58.50 - Advice for the next generation About Zuber Bagasi Zuber Bagasi graduated from Birmingham University in 2005 and went on to found the Synergy dental group of practices.   He also developed the dental training platform SynTrain.   Zuber is a Member of the Joint Dental Faculty and holds PG Certs in implantology, restorative dentistry and facilitated learning in healthcare practice.   He continues to practice in his hometown of Bolton with the Synergy group.  

Dentistry was always in the stars for today’s guest, Rob Jacobs.    Rob’s father Tony is a prominent dentist and founder of the GDPUK website and forum, so you could say dentistry was destiny.   In this episode, Rob gets geeky about his passion and specialism - endodontics. He also talks family and lets us in on what happened during hid dad’s recent brush with COVID.    Enjoy! In This Episode 01.02 - COVID life and lockdown 02.17 - On dad and growing up 10.49 - What makes a great endodontologist? 15.21 - Insta-endo 19.01 - Heroics, referrals and day-to-day endo 25.42 - On pricing 32.17 - COVID and family values 46.30 - Future and practice ownership 51.03 - Rob’s black box moment 56.09 - To specialise or not to specialise? 01.02.15 - One thing you need to know about endo 01.07.16 - Rob’s last day on earth About Rob Jacobs Mancunian Rob Jacobs gained his bachelor of dental surgery from Newcastle University in 2012 and went on to work in Manchester as a general dentist.   In 2015, Rob embarked on specialist training in endodontics at Liverpool University, where he also completed a doctorate-level research project on patient-reported outcomes.   Rob currently practices in Garstang, Lancashire.