#303 The Force — Mahmoud Ibrahim

Mahmoud Ibrahim, known as the "Occlusion Ninja," transforms the complex world of occlusion into practical, everyday dentistry wisdom. 

From nearly abandoning his dental career to becoming one of the UK's most sought-after occlusion educators, Mahmoud shares his journey of obsessive learning and the simple truth that changed everything: occlusion is just force management. 

He reveals common mistakes that plague restorative work, explains why your composite veneers might be chipping, and discusses his partnership with Jaz Gulati in revolutionising dental education. 

This conversation blends technical excellence with honest reflections on clinical errors, the pursuit of perfection, and finding meaning in both success and failure.

In This Episode

00:02:15 - Force management fundamentals

00:08:25 - Bruxism

00:18:20 - Restorations

00:27:25 - Last tooth syndrome

00:32:05 - Basic occlusal examination

00:35:15 - Lab communication secrets

00:42:20 - Awakenings, revelations, obsessions

00:49:20 - Mentors and Jaz

01:16:40 - Course development

01:32:35 - Blackbox thinking

01:38:55 - Ethics and motivation

01:42:00 - Inspirational lectures, courses and papers

01:51:05 - Fantasy dinner party

01:54:40 - Last days and legacy

About Mahmoud Ibrahim

Mahmoud Ibrahim is a general dentist and renowned occlusion educator, widely known as the "Occlusion Ninja" from his collaborations with Jaz Gulati. Based in Birmingham, he's transformed from someone who initially wanted to escape dentistry into one of the UK's most respected voices in occlusal education. He co-created the popular OB (Occlusion Basics) course and runs the Bulletproof and Unshakeable live courses, focusing on making complex occlusal principles accessible for everyday dental practice.