In this episode of Dentology, Andy and Chris chat to MaggieAndi – a holistic dentist, practice principal, mother of three, and founder ofthe global Kids Go Free movement.
Maggie chats about her childhood and her early years as adentist after qualifying at just 22. She credits her mentor, Dr NariMansukhani, for igniting her love for the profession and talks about how hisinfluence shaped her career from the very beginning.
From her first roles in dentistry to becoming principal ofMill Hill Dental Practice – a surgery with over 110 years of history – Maggie talksabout her journey, including the challenges of balancing motherhood andbusiness ownership in a demanding profession.
Digital dentistry has played a major role in Maggie’spractice, recognised in 2024 when she won Best Practice for Digital Innovationand Clinical Excellence. She chats about how digital tools fit alongside herholistic approach, and what more needs to be done to integrate lifestyle,mental health, and oral care into mainstream dentistry.
Finally, she explains about her Kids Go Free initiative – apowerful movement she launched in 2020 to tackle the growing crisis inchildren’s access to dental care, aiming to enlist 5,000 dentists worldwide toopen their doors to young patients.
Topics:
- Tell usabout your childhood - was there a time you can look backon your childhood and say this is why I am the person I am today?
- You qualified as a dentist as just 22 and credit your mentor Dr NariMansukhani - what did Dr Nari say which made dentistry so compelling?
- What was your career pathway from qualifying in 2003 through to owning MillHill Dental Practice?
- When did you start your family as this can be a hugely challenging partof dental careers for women?
- Did you get on board with digital revolution quite early on and how doesthis integrate with your holistic approach to dentistry?
- Is there enough being done around holistic dentistry and what are thebarrier to this being a more mainstream conversation?
- Tell us about your Kids Go Free movement
- How is it going and how dire is the situation for kids to get access todentistry?
- You are clearly very entrepreneurial – where does this come from and whatdrives you to keep innovating?
- What is your secret to finding time to do so much but also be so presentwith your family?