Dental Leaders Podcast

Laura Horton relates her journey from dental nurse and TCO to practice owner and growth consultant.   Laura gives a clinic-eye view on the invaluable role of TCOs in shaping patient experience within the practice, shares wisdom on team growth and development, and discusses the highs and lows of practice ownership.   Enjoy!    In This Episode 00.50 - Backstory 07.00 - Nursing, TCO and consultancy 12.00 - Practice workflow insights 17.20 - Practice ownership 29.25 - Professional relationships and career development 35.00 - The TCO role 44.00 - Team training and development 01.26.00 - Friendship Vs professionalism 01.36.30 - Trust and karma 01.54.00 - Fantasy Dinner Party 02.01.10 - Last days and legacy About Laura Horton Former TCO and dental nurse Laura Horton owns and runs Flagstaff-based clinic Dental Smiles. She is the founder of Laura Horton Consulting, which provides practice growth and development support.   

Former boxer turned model Paul Sculfor opens up about addiction, sobriety, and the pressures of fame. He discusses the depth of addiction, self-acceptance, and the impact of transitioning from the ring to the catwalk. Paul shares insights on male mental health, self-image, and the importance of genuine self-discovery.

Sarika Shah shares her journey from Kenya to leading a successful dental practice in the UK, discussing patient care, practice growth, and obstacles. She explores the challenges faced by women in dentistry, reflecting on leadership, parenting, and continuous learning. Insights on mindset, self-leadership, and historical influences round out the engaging conversation.

Yolande Fisher shares her compelling journey from early childhood in Cameroon to successful practice in Bristol.    Her story unfolds from her early education and influences to the challenges and revelations she faced within the NHS and her transition to private practice.    Alongside her clinical pursuits, Yolande delves into the balance of motherhood, continuous learning, and the pursuit of personal fulfilment. amidst the evolving landscape of dentistry. In This Episode 01.30 - Back story 06.00 - Discovering dentistry 21.40 - The NHS Experience 27.15 - Motherhood, moving to Bristol, and family life. 37.00 - Learning and leading 42.10 - Social media  47.00 - Family 56:20 -  Privilege 01:11:20  - Black box thinking 01:24:00  - Continuous learning 01:19:40 - Practice ownership and partnerships 01.23.56 - Standout learning experiences 01.30.32 - Future 01.36.21 - Fantasy dinner party 01.40.16 - Last days and legacy About Yolande Fisher Yolande Fisher is a GDP practising at the Family Dental and Implant Centre in Bristol.  

Ellie Bratt joins Payman and Rhona for a chat about generational trauma, gender dynamics in the workplace and society, and the challenges and biases faced by women.    Ellie shares her personal and professional so far, discussing her entrepreneurial spirit and the founding of Sirens social media marketing agency. In This Episode   02.00 - Background 03.40 - Generational trauma 09.45 - School 12.00 - Gender dynamics and societal expectations 19.00 - Entrepreneurial journey 26.05 - Gender pay gap and workplace dynamics 36.30 - Sirens 41.05 - TikTok and social media 01.02.50 - Top tips About Ellie Bratt Ellie Bratt is an influencer, TikTok personality and founder of Sirens social media agency.  

Chris Tavares delves into philosophical and ethical aspects of dentistry, his experience as a member of The Jesuit Order, and its impact on his personal and professional development journey.    Chris also shares perspectives on teaching and mentorship, NHS Vs private practice, and the a-ha moments that have informed his practice. In This Episode 01.45 - Discernment, justification and philosophy 18.15 - Coming to the UK 22.39 - Vocation, study, first job 26.34 - The Jesuit Order 30.30 - Ethics and epistemology 45.43 - Black box thinking 53.16 - Highs, lows and a-ha moments 01.00.40 - Teaching 01.05.56 - NHS to private dentistry 01.09.50 - Staying solo 01.16.39 - Free time and family life 01.19.42 - Fantasy dinner party 01.22.06 - Last days and legacy About Chris Tavares Chris Tavares is a former member of The Jesuit Order. He now practices dental surgery in Derby, UK.  

The second part of our conversation with Len D’ Cruz delves into the emotional impact of clinical errors and explores the role of the BDA in supporting dental professionals when things go wrong.   Len also discusses his practice-growth journey so far and reveals why he still feels an affinity for NHS practice and patients. In This Episode 01:30 - BDA—role and challenges 14.16 - Stress, errors and impact 24:25 - Blackbox thinking 37:00 - Practice growth 45.46 - NHS practice 48.37 - Fantasy exit 53.03 - Practice management 55.06 - Getting involved 59.04 - Identity 01.00.52 - Fantasy dinner party 01.10.01 - Last days and legacy About Len D’Cruz Len D’Cruz is the head of indemnity at the British Dental Association. He heads a mixed NHS/private practice consisting of seven surgeries in Woodford Green, North East London. He also teaches the MA in Dental Law and Ethics program at the University of Bedfordshire.  

Payman Langroudi presents part one of a deep conversation with Len D'Cruz, a distinguished figure in dental legal affairs. Len shares his journey from Nairobi to London, his unexpected path into dentistry, and his perspectives on the evolving field of dental law.    Len talks about childhood, academic choices, and his approach to handling dental complaints and claims with empathy, detailed record-keeping, and a cool head in the face of pressure.  In This Episode 02:15 - Backstory 04:10 - Entry into dentistry 07:55 - Character traits 09:00 - Dentistry and academia 11:10 - Whitechapel 12:30 - University 14:10 - Work ethic 17:10 - Dental legal affairs  24:45 - Mistakes and shame 31:20 - The legal landscape 35:10 - Partnerships 38:40 - Defending legal cases 41:05 - Implant and aligner therapy 43:40 - Future trends 45:55 - Record-keeping About Len D'Cruz Len D'Cruz is the head of indemnity at the British Dental Association. He heads a mixed NHS/private practice consisting of seven surgeries in Woodford Green, North East London. He also teaches the MA in Dental Law and Ethics program at the University of Bedfordshire.

Specialist endodontist Aram Navai says the number one skill for endo nurses is staying awake.    In this week’s episode, Aram chats with Payman about the value of skilled nurses and the stigma around endodontics.    Aram also recounts his journey to specialism in what is perhaps one of dentistry’s most intimidating disciplines and puts forward his nomination for the world’s greatest living endodontist.     Enjoy! In This Episode 01.47 - The road to dentistry 10.04 - Study 16.46 - From A&E to specialisation 28.36 - Endodontics in practice 44.47 - Social media 47.19 - Being a visiting specialist 59.05 - Downtime 01.01.40 - Black box thinking 01.12.52 - Sub-specialisms 01.13.57 - International outlook 01.15.46 - Building referrals 01.21.36 - World’s number one 01.23.52 - Fantasy dinner party 01.26.35 - Last days and legacy About Aram Navai Aram Navai is a visiting endodontic specialist and the founder of the London Root Canal Clinic specialist referral centre.  

Content creator Sophie Milner discusses her journey from journalism to online influence, exploring themes of mental health, social media's impact, and challenges of online life. The podcast also covers gender identity, cosmetic procedures, men's mental health, antidepressants, health forums, and going solo.