#292 The Endless Pursuit — Richard Lee

Payman welcomes renowned restorative aesthetic dentist Richard Lee to the Dental Leaders podcast. Richard shares his journey from an unintentional entry into dentistry to becoming one of the UK's top cosmetic clinicians. 

With refreshing candour, he discusses the endless pursuit of excellence, his formative education under mentors like Chris Orr, and his approach to balancing artistry with practicality. 

Throughout the episode, Richard reflects on how his international experiences, including a recent stint in New Zealand, have shaped his perspective on dentistry and life.

In This Episode

00:02:10 - The endless pursuit of excellence and early inspirations

00:05:50 - Discovering dentistry and university experiences

00:12:10 - Early career burnout and taking a year off to dive

00:20:25 - The influence of American occlusion courses

00:26:35 - Returning to dentistry with a new perspective

00:31:30 - Working as Chris Orr's first associate

00:38:00 - Finding your confidence in clinical dentistry

00:41:35 - Injection moulding technique for composite

00:47:15 - Working with technicians and their importance

00:51:40 - Handling difficult cases and patient expectations

00:57:20 - Setting boundaries with patients seeking dramatic aesthetics

01:07:35 - Primary tooth anatomy in composite work

01:15:25 - The New Zealand experience

01:30:35 - Clinical errors and managing patient expectations

01:38:00 - Redoing porcelain veneers for patient satisfaction

01:44:00 - Finding fulfillment in dentistry

01:47:15 - Fantasy dinner party

01:47:45 - Last days and legacy

About Richard Lee

Richard Lee is one of the UK's leading restorative aesthetic dentists, renowned for his work in both composite and ceramic restorations. A graduate of Birmingham University, Richard's career journey took him from NHS dentistry to becoming the first associate at Chris Orr's London Bridge practice. 

He has extensive experience in high-end private practice and currently works with Bupa. Richard is also an educator who runs sought-after composite courses internationally, including freehand and injection moulding techniques. His career has included a period working in New Zealand before returning to the UK, where he now practises in London while commuting from Winchester.