Dental Leaders Podcast

Known to friends and colleagues as The FMR Guy, Dr Devang Patel is considered an authority on the science of full mouth rehabilitation, whose courses and lectures have helped hundreds of clinicians get to grips with complex treatment.   In this week’s episode, Devang chats with Prav about how it all started, recalling his unorthodox entry into dental school in India and a reluctant move to the UK.   He gives his thoughts on what it takes to rise to the to provide full-mouth rehabilitation, gives advice for those just getting started, and reveals why even the fantasy kind of dinner party is an engagement he would rather avoid.   Enjoy!  In This Episode 01.55 - Implementation and execution 04.37 - Backstory 17.13 - University 28.26 - London and first work 37.06 - Holidays, time off  41.16 - Motivation, MSc and marriage 50.25 - Teaching, practice ownership and career development 59.39 - Delivering FMR and training 01.12.12 - Last days and legacy 01.20.37 - Fantasy dinner party About Devang Patel Dev graduated in 2004 and completed a one-year full-time MSc at Eastman Dental Institute, where he was awarded a distinction and the postgraduate prize for clinical and academic excellence.   He is an honorary senior clinical teaching fellow at UCL Eastman Dental Institute and has served as a deputy examiner for the GDC’s Overseas Registration exam.   Devang now provides training to fellow clinicians on full-mouth rehabilitation.

Payman goes live this week from the busy launch event of Mahrukh Khwaja’s new book, Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals.   He was lucky enough to catch Mahrukh for a whistlestop chat on the process of writing the book, the importance of factoring well-being into work and team culture, and it matters now more than ever.    In This Episode 01.42 - Writing and pitching 04.53 - The value of therapy 06.36 - Work culture and mental wellbeing 15.44 - Suicide rates in dentistry About Mahrukh Khwaja  Dr. Mahrukh Khwaja is a dentist, positive psychologist and mindfulness teacher. She founded Mind Ninja—a wellness startup dedicated to improving mental health and resilience among dental professionals.    Her book Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals is published by Wiley Blackwell and available from major book retailers.  

Emerging AI technologies are set to transform dentistry—and this week’s guest is at the vanguard of the seachange.   Ophir Tanz says artificial intelligence won’t replace dentists but will support and free them to focus on patients and clinical time.   His latest project, Pearl, is already providing AI diagnostic support to a profession that carries out more radiography than any other medical discipline.   Ophir explores the potential use cases for AI in dentistry, shares thoughts on the regulatory landscape and gives the lowdown on the challenges of training diagnostic AI in an industry with a surprisingly inconsistent approach to identifying and treating pathologies.   Enjoy!     In This Episode 02:05 - AI, GumGum and Pearl 09.50 - Use cases: data and pathologies 13.51 - Training AI 17.13 - Neural networks 21.10 - Patient communication and case acceptance 22.31 - Regulatory hurdles 24.14 - Early detection and diagnosis 26.50 - Future applications 29.46 - Pricing and distribution models 32.54 - Ophir’s story 34.48 - Drive and five-year horizon 38.04 - Superpowers 42.09 - Blackbox thinking 50.13 - Competition 52.39 - Highs and lows 56.58 - Business inspirations 57.57 - Last days and legacy 01.03.02 - Fantasy dinner party About Ophir Tanz Ophir Tanz is the founder of Pearl—a provider of AI-powered diagnosis and practice performance software for dentists.   He previously founded successful interactive and AI brands in media, branding and mobile spaces.  

Following the sad news of her untimely passing on September 15, 2023, here’s a chance to remind ourselves why Uchenna Okoye was one of the UK dentistry’s most beloved personalities.   Originally broadcast in December 2020, the episode touches on Uchenna’s London Smiling group of clinics and ITV and Channel 4 TV roles for which she will be remembered.  “I don't understand the jealousy and all that nonsense. There's enough teeth for everybody.”  Uchenna Okoye In This Episode 01.12 - Backstory 05.19 - Race and gender 24.01 - Cosmetic dentistry 26.44 - TV and PR 32.21 - Fitting in 36.21- Patient journey 43.21 - Training 50.31 - Motherhood 55.34 - Day in the life 58.52 - Being strict 01.04.38 - Being a brand 01.14.25 - Legacy About Dr Uchenna Okoye Cosmetic dentist was the founder of the London Smiling group of clinics.   She was a frequent contributor to radio and TV, best known for her role on Channel Four’s Ten Years Younger and ITV’s This Morning. Uchenna passed away on September 15, 2023.  

Payman kicks off this episode by discussing why it took Ten Dental founder Nik Sisodia to sit down for a chat on Dental Leaders.   But a quick look at Nik’s prolific achievements explains why he hasn’t found the time: As well as founding one of the capital’s most successful groups of clinics, Nik has also found time to steer the BACD and BARD while carving a name as a highly sought-after implant clinician and educator.   Nik tells the Ten Dental story, discusses his involvement with dental associations, and reveals why every dentist should occasionally sit down in their own chair to gaze at the ceiling.   Enjoy!   In This Episode 02.13 - Backstory 11.01 - Ten Dental 29.44 - Experience and a-ha moments 43.30 - The implant market 45.21 - Group structure, talent and location 55.07 - Listening and chairside manner 57.50 - Blackbox thinking 01.10.57 - Looking back 01.14.36 - Loves and hates 01.32.22 - BACD & BAAD 01.36.18 - Retirement and exiting 01.40.16 - Fantasy dinner party 01.44.53 - Last days and legacy About Nik Sisodia Nik Sisodia graduated from Bristol University in 1995 and co-founded Ten Dental alongside Martin Wanendeya.   He is a prolific lecturer and mentor on implant and restorative dentistry.   Nik is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. He is a member of the International Team for Implantology, the Association of Dental Implantology, the British Association of Aesthetic Dentistry and the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry.   He is also a former president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.  

Patient acquisition can feel like a minefield. If you’re wondering which advertising platform gives the best return on your marketing spend or how to generate and follow up leads, marketing scientist Prav Solanki has the answers.   In this solo show, Prav answers some of the most commonly asked questions about lead generation, giving insight into practice websites versus dedicated landing pages and why measuring ROI is a long-term game.   Enjoy!     04.55 - Facebook Vs Google ads 22.06 - Websites Vs landing pages 30.40 - Conversions and long-term ROI  

One profession is more than enough for most clinicians. So, how does Rav Moore find the time to squeeze in dual acting and modelling careers alongside dentistry?   He explains how in this week’s episode. Rav also chats with Payman about the insecurities of being an actor and how the craft informs his daily practice as a dentist.   Enjoy!  In This Episode 01:01 - Discovering acting 07.10 - Revered actors and directors 11.44 - Cinemas 13.19 - Blackbox thinking 20.08 - The darker side of acting 30.17 - Communication 40.36 - Fantasy dinner party 43.58 - Last days and legacy About Rav Moore Rav Moore divides his time between dental practice, modelling and acting. He has appeared in Bollywood Jane at Curve Leicester and in advertisements for Wilkinson Sword, the Highways Agence, Virgin Media, and Dental Protection.  

You could say Shirin Ali has waited her entire career to answer Payman’s infamous question on worst clinical mistakes. The London-based associate says her black box moment happened while treating her very first patient.   But the experience did little to dampen a stellar career that’s seen Shirin spend almost two decades at one of London’s most prestigious practices.     She chats with Payman about her start during the early years of cosmetic dentistry working alongside Chris Orr, discusses working with the legendary Eddie Scher, and reveals why practice ownership    In This Episode 01.08 - Social media and anonymity 03.55 - Backstory and discovering dentistry 08.56 - First jobs 24.21 - Art Vs science 28.23 - Walpole Street 30.47 - Practice ownership 34.07 - Eddie Scher and Banning Dental  45.42 - Curiosity and training and development 50.33 - Downtime 53.05 - Blackbox thinking and best days 01.04.00 - Alternative careers 01.09.18 - Fantasy dinner party 01.14.29 - Last days and legacy About Shirin Ali Shrin Ali s an associate with a special interest in cosmetic dentistry. She spent 17 years practising at Chelea’s exclusive Walpole Street Dental Practice and now works part-time at London-based Banning Dental & Skin Clinique.   

Ahmad Nounou’s Black Swan Dental Spa and Bristol Dental Suite practices have taken the South west by storm. So what’s his secret?   In this episode, Ahmad chats with Payman about his uncompromising approach to customer service that has earned his practices a reputation for providing the best patient experience in the industry.    He tells how he turned Black Swan from an ailing clinic into the success it is today, discusses the importance of maintaining and passing on a strong work ethic, and chats about dividing time between practice management and his clinical and mentoring roles.   Enjoy!  In This Episode 01.42 - When the going gets tough 06.52 - Growing up 11.02 - Academia to ownership 26.27 - Growing Black Swan 38.30 - Work ethic 47.54 - The feel 53.06 - Setting goals 01.00.28 - Control and delegation 01.09.08 - Customer service and culture 01.18.36 - Position, pricing and marketing 01.25.05 - Practice Vs business 01.30.31 - The Centre for Dentistry 01.42.09 - Events, conferences and mentoring 01.55.50 - Black box thinking 02.13.15 - Weaknesses 02.18.16 - Fantasy dinner party 02.23.50 - Last days and legacy About Ahmad Nounu Ahmad Nounu is the principal of Somerset-based Black Swan Dental Spa and Bristol. His most recent venture is the Private Dental Mentor scheme for dentists in private practice.   Enjoy!  

Viewers of ITV’s This Morning and E4’s Body Fixers will be familiar with this week’s Mind Mover, Dr Tijion Esho. In this episode, Tijion chats with Payman and Rhona about his journey being one of the aesthetic industry’s most familiar faces. He shares the turbulent life of his Esho skincare brand and talks about dealing with grief following the passing of a close mentor and big brother figure, delving deep into the many clinical and business highs and lows experienced over his meteoric rise. Enjoy!   In This Episode 03.36 - Backstory and entering medicine 15.46 - Race 19.05 - Choosing aesthetics 26.25 - NHS and giving back 30.44 - Achievements, fulfilment and validation 41.26 - Business highs and lows 53.06 - Grief and mental health 01.02.12 - Social media, anonymity and tolerance 01.13.30 - Litigation and regulation 01.21.05 - Clinical errors 01.28.45 - Ultimate happiness About Tijion Esho Dr Tijion Esho graduated from Leicester Medical School in 2005. He is a member of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and General Practitioners. Tijion is the doctor on E4’s Body Fixers and regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning. He regularly contributes to Forbes and Vogue and has a regular column in OK Magazine. Tijion’s experience with non-surgical aesthetic procedures has earned him the nickname Dr Lips. Tijion is the co-host of Steths, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll alongside fellow This Morning doctors Ranj Singh, Dr Zoe Williams, and Dr Sara Kayat. In 2016, Tijion initiated the ESHO Initiative, offering reconstructive treatments to those who have experienced issues due to cosmetic procedures, trauma, or congenital deformities.  Additionally, he played a role in founding the Black Aesthetics Advisory Board (BAAB), an organisation tasked with examining the encounters of black and ethnic medical professionals and patients in the aesthetic field.