Dental Leaders Podcast

If you’re one of the many listeners wondering where Prav has been hiding, all will be revealed in this week’s episode.   In this end-of-year special, Prav returns to let us know why the past three months have been the most stressful and intensive of his career.   If you’re thinking of buying or selling a practice, or wondering how to start putting an exit strategy together, you won’t want to miss this one.   Enjoy!   “The best deal on the table is not the most money, the best deal on the table is the right deal for you”. Prav Solanki In This Episode 01.52 - Where’s Prav been? 04.11 - The process and perfectionism 07.41 - Planning and goals 11.47 - Roles and responsibilities 16.47 - The exit process explained 22.25 - Options and getting the best deal 30.04 - Due diligence 39.15 - COVID, costs and practice growth 49.53 - Adapting to changing economics 57.37 - Fantasy dinner party

Alan Burgin is perhaps best known by his Instagram alter-ego, The Cornish Dentist, whose informative how-tos have earned Alan an impressive follower count among fellow professionals.   He sits down with Cardiff University alumni Payman to explain his journey to being one of the UK’s most promising young dentists and talks about life in Cornwall and early years in max-fax.   Payman also puts Alan on the spot about rubber-dam placement, suturing and composites.   Enjoy!   “The majority of my career and progression has basically been a series of high-pressure situations that are sink or swim, and so far I've been swimming. But some of them - I think - were close to the mark.”   Alan Burgin In This Episode 01.41 - Backstory 07.04 - Confidence 10.15 - Cardiff and dental school 14.09 - Max-fax and oral surgery 21.54 - Travel 27.43 - First job 29.28 - Implants 37.39 - Social media 44.40 - Cornwall 46.48 - Phobia and sedation dentistry 48.30 - Full-mouth dentistry and stabilisation 55.11 - Finding and teaching your niche 01.02.17 - Rapidfire top tips 01.06.39 - Blackbox thinking 01.17.18 - Future plans 01.19.20 - Last days and legacy About Alan Burgin Alan graduated with honours from Cardiff University in 2012 and took on a post as a senior maxillofacial house officer at Newport Gwent hospital.   He practised in Wales and bath before settling in Cornwall, where he practices at Pure dental, focusing on full-mouth rehabilitation.   Alan has amassed 10K+ followers as Instagram’s The Cornish Dentist,

General dentist Victoria Sampson followed her big sister Ariane into dentistry but each has since walked their own path through the profession.   Ariane is an orthodontist, while Victoria is using the microbiome found in saliva to unite dentistry with general health.    The pair talk about their shared journey, discuss their passions and assemble the unusual guestlist for a fantasy dinner party.   Enjoy!     “I want world bacterial peace. That would be the dream.” Victoria Sampson  In This Episode 02.20 - Backstory 06.38 - Dental school 13.24 - Next steps 17.53 - Victoria talks microbiome research 27.42 - Ariane talks orthodontics and social media 41.00 - Blackbox thinking 54.49 - On regrets 58.05 - Ortho skills and ABB 01.02.59 - Invisalign 01.05.09 - World bacterial peace 01.08.49 - Last days and legacy 01.11.29 - Fantasy dinner parties About Ariane and Victoria Sampson Sisters Ariane and Victoria Sampson are perhaps best known by their Instagram moniker, thedentalsisters.    They practice at London’s 38 Devonshire Street where Ariane is an orthodontist and Victoria focuses on general dentistry.  

No one could accuse Jenni Kabir of being anything but quick off the mark in finding success. She purchased her first practice just six months after finishing VT and was considering retirement by the time she hit her mid-20s.   Jenny takes us through her impoverished upbringing in York, where she became a full-time young carer after her mother sustained life-changing injuries. She describes how she dealt with a shocking violation of trust from an associate, reveals why she often hesitates before treating lawyers and much more.    Enjoy!   “If you've heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, I really feel I’m at a point in my life where I've got enough...I want to give back and empower other people in whatever capacity I can.” Jenni Kabir In This Episode 02.52 - Backstory 08.49 - Into dental school 11.29 - Adversity and confidence 14.02 - Leaving mum behind 17.17 - VT, first jobs and practice ownership 24.26 - Starting again 27.30 - North Vs South 29.27 - Building Fresh Dental 33.32 - A violation of trust 41.08 - Blackbox thinking 50.49 - Women and implantology 53.14 - On mentors 56.15 - Teaching, B&Bs, car washes and diversification 01.04.27 - Motivation and leadership 01.06.59  - Future plans and pride 01.09.36 - Last days and legacy About Jenni Kabir Dr Jenni Kabir studied in Manchester, where she ran a chain of successful clinics before returning to her hometown of York to set up Fresh Smiles Dental Clinic.   She is one of the youngest dentists to be awarded DPDS postgraduate diploma from the University of Bristol and holds a diploma in implant dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons.    Jenni was selected to be the dentist for the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2001 and the London Olympic games in 2012. She is currently undertaking a masters degree in implantology.  

This week’s episode starts with a content warning: When brewing tea, Tej Mell pours the milk first.     It’s just one of many tidbits the Yorkshire-based dentist lets us in on in a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from managing and motivating teams to the appreciation of clockwork and watches.   Tej tells us about starting his journey into implant treatment and why the third time was a charm when it came to finding success as a practice owner.   He also lifts the lid on his decision to stand in the upcoming BDA elections.   Enjoy!    “Why dentistry? I’ll be honest with you  In This Episode 02.27 - Backstory 05.48 - Superpowers 07.01 - First job, first boss, first practice 09.25 - Selling up 17.20 - Lessons learned 19.12 - Practice number two 23.35 - Third time lucky 26.51 - Time, peace and limitations 27.46 - Starting with implants 35.39 - Advice for new practice owners 41.41 - Firing 45.32 - Career progression, bonuses and motivation 53.28 - BDA elections and the future of NHS dentistry 01.04.20 - Watches 01.11.18 - Tea 01.12.30 - Last days, legacy and dinner guests About Tej Mellachervu Dr Tej Mellachervu (Mell) graduated from Leeds University in 2001 and went into practice around Yorkshire before purchasing and selling two practices. He is now the principal dentist and owner of Crigglestone Dental Care in Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Almost fresh from dental school, this week’s guests are already sharing their work to help others learn.   “We’re not teachers,” say Balraj (Bal) Sohal and Kris Vekaria, who set up the Kaizen learning resource to share what they love most.   Kris and Bal let us in on how Kaizen came about and their plans for its future. The pair also talk about failed extractions, the pros and cons of learning on social media, meeting Maradona and more.   Enjoy!       “We're not really experts or trying to teach. We're just trying to share what we do on a daily basis, our mistakes and cases that go well...we don't want to come across as teachers. It's more just about providing free content and sharing the kind of the stuff we enjoy doing.”   Bal Sohal  In This Episode 02.26 - First meeting 06.21 - Kaizen, teaching and sharing 13.11 - Finding an audience and keeping it simple 17.11 - Research 21.22 - Current practice 21.55 - Background stories 27.39 - Learning on social media 28.14 - VT year and COVID 33.20 - Blackbox thinking 54.33 - The future of Kaizen 56.37 - Fantasy dinner parties 01.04.58 - Where to find Kaizen About Bal Sohal and Kris Vekaria Balraj Sohal and Kris Vekaria graduated from King’s College in 2019 and quickly went on to set up the Kaizen dental learning resource which shares bite-sized tips on treatment and techniques.   

In this week’s solo episode, Prav talks about one of his favourite topics: Context and congruency in marketing.   Using real-life examples from his open practices, he explains why establishing context and congruency matter throughout the patient journey should be a priority.   He also dispenses actionable advice on how teams can use this powerful marketing hack to improve conversions and enhance the patient experience.   Enjoy!        “It's all about communication that has context, and that is congruent with previous conversations.” Prav Solanki In This Episode 00.22  - An everyday example 04-56 - Stepping into patients’ shoes14.57 - From online to real life27.07 - Why it matters Prav Solanki is a healthcare entrepreneur, marketer, dental practice owner and host of the Dental Leaders podcast. To ask Prav a question about context and congruency or other aspects of practice marketing growth, visit www.prav.com.

If you’ve been busy banking CPD hours, you may be familiar with this week’s guest. Jasmine Piran is a self-confessed course junkie who’s made a move from pupil to teacher. She lets us in on life as a lecturer and provides insight into how a psychology degree and NLP training have helped her understand and connect with nervous patients. Jasmine also lifts the lid on her time with celebrity dentist Uchenna Okoye, her interest in art and music, and more. Enjoy!   “Isn't it a privilege that patients come and see us for elective treatment? The whole mood changes when someone comes in and you have to tell them they need a root canal treatment or an extraction, versus someone who comes to you and says: ‘please help me, I want you to help me improve my smile’. Already, that's a great energy space to be in.” Jasmine Piran In This Episode 01.42 - Backstory05.08 - Study at Guy’s08.19 - Psychology, NLP and nervous patients16.21 - Into practice20.16 - Dental nursing21.21 - Uchenna Okoye24.41 - Trailblazing and work-life balance25.59 - Principals Vs Associates32.47 - Minimally invasive philosophy36.03 - Learning and teaching40.27 - Invisalign and orthodontics43.53 - Blackbox thinking51.06 - Ethics52.51 - Perfection paralysis55.27 - Teaching SmileFast01.02.18 - Art, music and travel01.05.11 - Last days and legacy About Jasmine Piran Jasmine Piran qualified from Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ Dental Institute in 2001. She has since gained a Masters degree with distinction in restorative and aesthetic dentistry from the University of Manchester and also holds a degree in psychology. She is an avid learner who has travelled to the US, Switzerland and Italy in pursuit of continuing professional development and has also studied extensively in the UK. In addition to dental training, Jasmine has also gained NLP and hypnotherapy accreditation.

Here’s something you don’t find every day - a specialist orthodontist who’s still carrying out day-to-day cosmetic and restorative work. This week’s guest, Josh Rowley, explains how and why the two go together hand-in-hand and tells how a once-in-lifetime alignment of the stars saw him take an unorthodox route to early specialist status. Josh also lifts the lid on why he loves being an educator and lets us in on not one but two clinical errors that changed the way he does dentistry.   “Teeth are stupid. If you push on them hard enough and long enough, they will move. They don't know if they're being moved by a bit of plastic or a bit of wire.” Josh Rowley In This Episode 01.00 - Backstory and parental influences19.15 - Into dentistry and orthodontics26.09 - Specialisms and marketing31.49 - Josh’s practices34.46 - Being an ortho-dentist43.52 - Teaching and lecturing54.49 - Blackbox thinking part one59.11 - The patient journey01.08.45 - Blackbox thinking part two01.12.01 - Direct-to-consumer orthodontics01.18.11 - Turkey teeth01.24.49 - Last days and legacy About Josh Rowley Josh Rowley graduated from The University of Dundee in 2014.  He was nominated for the Best Young Dentist award at Dentistry Scotland Awards in 2017 and 2018. He won the title in 2019 and was awarded Best Smile Makeover in 2020. Josh is a member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and The Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. He is also a trainer with IAS Academy.

Prav and Payman are finally reunited this week to welcome Dr Slaine McGrath to the show. Spending too much time in the dentist’s chair can be enough to put youngsters off dentistry for life. But the opposite is true for Slaine, who was inspired into the profession following a dental mishap early in life. Slaine talks about the pros and cons of being one of Insta’s most prominent dentists, how she landed a job at a top Harley Street clinic just two years after graduating. She also explains the magnetic pull of London and reveals her plans for a new clinic opening soon in Edinburgh. Enjoy! In This Episode 01.50 - Backstory04.53 - Women in dentistry06.36 - Work-life balance - a day in the life10.18 - Dental school12.51 - Into practice19.47 - Social marketing29.06 - Engaging with followers32.22 - Lessons from top clinics34.53 - Slaine’s vision39.37 - Thoughts on Edinburgh41.40 - Dark days and black box thinking49.03 - Slaine’s top tips56.15 - Last days and legacy About Slaine McGrath Slaine McGrath qualified Trinity College Dublin and worked in the maxillofacial department of Galway University Hospital in Ireland before heading for the bright lights of London. She spent time on Harley Street with Rüh dental, where she focused on Invisalign and cosmetic treatment. Slaine sits on the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry committee and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. She is currently embarked on setting up a brand new practice in Edinburgh.