Dental Leaders Podcast

Today’s guest says he doesn’t think of himself as being a leader. But a few minutes into the episode, and it’s clear we could all have something to learn from Vishsaal Shah.   In 2017, an unsettling discovery at Visaal’s practice turned his world upside down, leading to regulatory investigations, lawsuits and more than a lifetime’s-worth of stress.   In this episode, Visshal gives us the lowdown. He also fills us in on his early years in Kenya, and how an extraordinary approach to life, which put friends and family firmly front and centre, has helped him through the many highs and lows.   Enjoy!      “If you constantly compete with others you become bitter, but if you compete with yourself you become better.” Visshal Shah In This Episode 01.22 - Early years 16.43 - Odd jobs 28.31 - Graduation 35.16 - Into practice 42.41 - Give and take 53.05 - A life-changing discovery 01.22.37 - Vissaal’s advice About Vishaal Shah Vishaal graduated from St Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine in 2003 and went on to spend seven years as an associate.   In 2020, he purchased a practice in Hoddesdon, which he transferred into the popular Dentality brand.   Vishaal has lectured for the BACD and BDA and has gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Bedfordshire. He is now an honorary clinical lecturer for undergraduates at St Mary’s and is working towards a Masters in Implant Dentistry at Edge Hill University.

This week, we welcome Sofina Ahmed. Things kick off with a conversation about how her father’s unconventional approach to business has informed her own entrepreneurial mindset.   And what a mindset! Sofia talks about the highs and lows of expanding a single practice into a nationwide chain with a rapidity that would make most of us wince.     Sofia also lets us in on why night time is the perfect time to practice, and how the idea became the cornerstone of her successful Night Dental brand.   Enjoy!   “The kind of dentistry I've done and the kind of business I've done is one that has actually helped our community and helped people, and I have made that kind of difference.”   Sofina Ahmed  In This Episode 01.19 - Back story 11.30 - Night Dental concept 14.28 - Ethics, growth, positioning 20.50 - On management 29.13 - Covid & dynamism 35.05 - Ideas & execution 44.04 - Entrepreneurship, family & gender 48.44 - Highs and lows  55.51 - A day in the life 01.04.04 - Advice to young dentists & mental health 01.25.31 - Legacy About Sofina Ahmed Sofina graduated from Birmingham University in 2006 and quickly realised she wanted her own practice.   She went on to set up the Night Dentist providing out-of-hours treatment in Birmingham. The concept proved extremely popular and the chain now has a presence across much of the UK.

This week, our hosts checked in with dentist, trainer and mentor, Andrew Wallace.    Andrew talks about his upbringing in Northern Ireland and lets Prav and Payman in on how an unusual odd-job helped him through university.   He shares his thoughts on the highs and lows of practice ownership and gives some practical advice for leaders facing the pain of firing staff.   No conversation with Andrew would be complete without touching on the dental training circuit, where Andrew is a familiar face thanks to his work with IAS Academy. He lets us in on his hectic travel schedule and shares tips for perfect presentation delivery.   Enjoy!   “The only reason that I feel I can stand up and talk about anything is because I'm passionate about it. When you have a passion for something it makes it much easier to talk about. Still that first couple of moments on the stage is challenging.”  Andrew Wallace In This Episode 02.02 - School, university, bouncing 16.51 - Transition and training 27.51 - Tech and diagnosis 33.15 - Practice ownership, hiring and firing 41.09 - Running with ideas 46.36 - Clinical errors 48.44 - Dealing with nerves 53.12 - Work-life balance 57.50 - Darkest days and future days 01.03.31 - Last day on earth About Andrew Wallace Andrew Walace is one of Northern Ireland’s foremost orthodontists. He gained his Master of Clinical Dentistry in 2015 from King’s College London in 2015 and in the same year achieved full membership of the Faculty of General Practice for the Royal College of Surgeons.   Andrew is a prolific international lecturer on alignment and NI’s principal trainer for the Inman Aligner and ClearSmile straighteners. He also runs regular introductory talks and study clubs relating to orthodontics.   Andrew has been owner of Lisburn’s Bachelors Walk Dental practice since 2004 and is the current vice president of the European Society of Aesthetic Orthodontics.

This week, Prav and Paiman get to sit down one of their dental heroes - Andrew Dawood.    Andrew talks about early challenges setting up his West End practice and his thoughts on the pros and cons of investing in pioneering tech.   The trio also talk about the virtues of independent practices and how using the highest quality implant materials doesn’t always translate to a quality experience for the patient.   These are just a few of the topics touched on in a wide-ranging conversation with a true industry pioneer and one of the most accomplished implant specialists at work in the UK today.   Enjoy!   “We've tried all sorts of things in the past, but at the end of the day, keeping it simple is the way forward. Keeping teeth. That's keeping it simple. That's the way forward.” Andrew Dawood In This Episode 01.07 - Backstory 09.28 - Building the practice 16.09 - Patient journey 21.06 - On consent 24.36 - Quality vs quantity 29.56 - Pioneering, early doctors & new tech 35.25 - Synergies & leadership 39.37 - Family & practice expansion 50.41 - Next moves and past mistakes 59.56 - Work-life balance 01.02.16 - Legacy and last day on earth About Andrew Dawood Andrew grew up with ambitions of becoming a potter, but it was not to be. Instead, he graduated in dentistry from the Royal London Hospital in 1984 and went on to complete a Masters in conservative dentistry at Guy’s Hospital.   In 2000, Andrew was accepted onto the specialists register in both prosthodontics and periodontics. He went on to establish a reputation as one of the disciplines’ most accomplished practitioners. Andrew was one of the first dentists to explore the potential of 3D printing in dentistry. He is founder of Digits2Widgets 3D printing and design studio for non-dental applications.

In this bite-size episode, we welcome aboard old friend Richard Howarth. Richard fills us in on how he made a roaring success of his SmileStyle brand after disillusionment almost made him put down his handpiece for good.   Richard also lets us know about why he eventually decided to exit the venture and fills us in on his latest incarnation as a PPE supplier and manufacturer who has literally turned the industry on its head.   Enjoy!   “I always say, I don't like big spiders. If you put me in a room with big spiders and gave me a very important message, I don't think I would take it on board.”  Richard Howarth   In This Episode   00.17 - The SmileStyle story 12.16 - Journeys - patients and staff 21.26 - Exit this way 23.57 - The Provisage story   About Richard Howarth   Richard Howarth graduated from Turner Dental Hospital - part of Manchester University - in 1988 and later went on to found Stafford’s successful SmileStyle brand.   He is a trustee of the Dental Mavericks charity and regularly visits Morocco to carry out procedures for children with restricted access to dental care.   In 2020, Richard invented brought a new PPE visor to market, which he manufactures and distributes under the Provisage label.   Outside of the clinic, Richard is a keen sailor and watersports enthusiast. 

This week, Prav and Payman welcome their old friend Jason Smithson to the show. Jason talks about his modest Yorkshire upbringing and lets us in on how he almost chose a very different career path.   Jason fills us in on how a lack of technical know-how almost stopped his lecturing career before it began, but didn’t stop him from becoming an early internet sensation.   “Just be yourself, nobody will criticise you for being yourself. Everybody's got something to offer, offer what you feel is right...and you'll always have an audience.” Jason Smithson     In This Episode   01.27 - The early years 21.27 - Life down South and Cornwall Independent Practitioners Group 27.45 - Teaching on the global stage 42.46 - Social presence 51.45 - Travel and work-life balance 01.06.54 - Lowest moments 01.14.38 - Dealing with stage fright 01.22.47 - Groupies 01.25.31 - Jason’s advice for young dentists    About Jason Smithson   Former Harley Street dentist Jason Smitsson now practices in Cornwall. He is one the UK’s best recognised dental educators who has trained over 15,000 dentists across the world during his 15-year career.   He is widely considered to be among the industry’s most authoritative voices on cosmetic dentistry. He has authored a book on crowns and is a regular contributor to dental journals. Jason is also recognised as a pioneer in the use of dental operating microscopes for teaching direct resin dentistry.   In addition to being a dental practitioner and educator, Jason is a medico-legal expert witness.   Dr Smithson is an ‘In Demand’ presenter and is perhaps the most prolific in the UK. He is considered by his peers to be an authority on aesthetic dentistry and has presented to audiences on every continent over the past 10 years. He is a true innovator and pioneered the use of Dental Operating Microscope in teaching Direct Resin Artistry to other dentists in the UK; he is the author of numerous articles and a book on crowns in aesthetic dentistry.

This week, Prav and Payan welcome rising social starlet Rhona Eskander to the show. Rhona talks about her mission to make dentistry accessible to all.    Rhona discusses the pros and cons of Instagram and her relationships with some of the net’s biggest influencers. She also educates Prav on Nevada’s Burning Man Festival and talks about her experiences providing vital dental care for refugees.   Enjoy!   “I believe that we're all human beings and if we can't treat each other as humans, then you're not going to get anywhere and you have to be brave enough to break those boundaries. Which is what I have been doing.”  Dr Rhona Eskander In This Episode   01.06 - Formative years 10.34 - Making dentistry accessible 16.02 - Empowering women & social media 27.23 - Confidence & feelgood factor 32.32 - Treating influencers 39.52 - Pärla 46.03 - The Chelsea look & the Chelsae practice 52.13 - Low moments & lessons 01.00.14 - Burning Man 01.04.38 - Working with refugees 01.10.04 - On legacy About Rhona Eskander Rhona graduated from Leeds University and went on to complete vocational training in Kent where she won Best Case Presentation award for her complex restorative case. She has completed extensive postgraduate training including MJDF examinations and a year-long course in aesthetic dentistry with Dr Christopher Orr.   Platinum Invisalign dentist Rhona is prolific on social media and a high-profile face on the Instagram platform. She recently co-founded the Pärla ethical and environmentally-friendly toothpaste tablet brand.  

Many dentists feel they have been let down during the coronavirus crisis. Professional bodies were slow to speak up, delivering an ineffectual message to members when they finally did so.   The profession has not benefited from the government’s package of financial support for small businesses and insurers have proved that policies aren’t always worth the PDFs they’re written on.   This week, we meet Laith Abbas and Luke Thorley - two relative youngsters who are fighting back.   They reveal why they are leading a legal action against insurers and discuss how the crisis has been a catalyst for grassroots action with the formation of a new professional body representing private practices.    “[Coronavirus] is going to completely flip the whole landscape of dentistry. I don't think people quite realise that yet, because our attention at the moment is getting back to work. I can guarantee you, a year today, we are going to look back and think, "I can't believe how much has changed." Laith Abbas   In this Episode   01.25 - Business interruption legal action 21.22 - The British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD) 28.57 - COVID safety and returning to work 39.34 - On regulators 52.14 - BAPD vision for NHS treatment   About Laith Abbas and Luke Thorley   Laith Abbas is principal dentist and co-owner of Crouch Hall Dental Care. Luke Thorley is practice principal at Royal Wharf Dental in london.   The pair have been consistently outspoken about dental insurers’ response to the coronavirus crisis. They are leading a legal action against insurers which could involve more than 2000 UK dentists.  

In this week’s bulletin, Prav and Payman quiz Dr Christopher Orr on what practical steps dentists must take upon emerging from lockdown.   Their wide-ranging discussion covers indemnity, protective measures and adopting a triage approach to inviting patients back to clinic.   They also tackle the difference between NHS and private practices, and how regulators and dentists might improve their response, if the unthinkable were ever to happen again.   “There's always been an element of risk in dentistry that existed long before COVID came along, and the question really is what do we do to really try and mitigate that risk?” Dr Christopher Orr   00.17 - What do dentists need to do before returning to work? 07.47 - On indemnity 10.23 - Regulation & communication 13.07 - Assessing by need 20.35 - Looking after staff and patients 23.44 - NHS practices 26.21 - Courses and education 27.52 - Preparing for a next time 36.46 - ‘Land-grabs’ 39.03 - Protocols, PPE and purifiers   About Dr Christopher Orr Dr Christopher Orr is a cosmetic, aesthetic and restorative dentist whose past positions include president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Odontological Section of the Royal Society of Medicine.    He is also a former director of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and former course director for the MSc in Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry at the University of Manchester.    Christopher was named Private Dentistry magazine’s most influential private practitioner in 2013. He is a prolific international lecturer on dentistry and often features in the press, radio TV and online media.

Mark Topley spent time as a primary school teacher, drum tech and roadie before setting his sights on coaching in corporate social responsibility.   We are thankful he did. Mark talks us through his early work as CEO of Bridge2Aid, and how a financial fraud against the dental charity almost put a stop to its operations.   Mark also talks us through his decision to step away from Bridge2Aid after a decade at the helm - and how that eventually led to the  corporate responsibility coaching work for which he is now known.   “We trained about 450 people, that's access to emergency dentistry for about four-and-a-half million people.”  Mark Topley    In this episode   02.21 - Getting started 14.04 - Charities - competition and differentiation 20.00 - The Bridge2Aid model 32.10 - Facing down challenges 40.01 - Family life in Tanzania 44.21 - Endings and new beginnings 52.02 - CSR - WTF? 01.05.14 - On teamwork 01.10.58 - Mark’s last day on earth   About Mark Topley Mark’s early professional background is in teaching and community project management. He also worked in charity startups and has toured the US and Europe with bands as a production manager.   A chance encounter in 2003 led to him working in Tanzania alongside the founders of dental charity Bridge2Aid. He spent a decade as CEO of the charity before advising businesses on corporate social responsibility (CSR).