Dental Leaders Podcast

This week, we introduce Amit Patel to the show. Amit is a renowned dentist hailing from a family of successful dental professionals and he shares his insight into growing up in that world.    Hear Amit and Payman talk business in Brickfields and building bridges. Amit shares his experiences in Essex, Yorkshire and beyond, and also discusses the importance of working hard and playing hard.   Enjoy!   “There's always been people, you know, trying to put doom and gloom on it. But, yeah, I love my job. I love working my hands. I love talking to people. I love communicating with patients. And I just think it's a very rewarding profession, to be sure.” Rupert Monkhouse   In This Episode   03.49 - Growing up in Essex 06:33 - Leeds is in Bristol 10.20 - Yorkshire education 11.41 - The Dental Network 15:37 - Choosing business partners 20:30 - Qualifying 25:05 - Being a junior 28:44 - Getting your head down 32:46 - Choosing the right courses 35:27 - Timing courses 40:49 - Having a dad in dentistry 42:57 - Lockdown impacts 44:49 - The MAGDS exam 50:09 - Talking business 52:36 - Being the principal dentist 56:13 - Brickfield’s 01:05:07 - Building bridges 01:22:02 - Family life 01:25:23 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Amit Patel Amit graduated from the University of Leeds with a Merit of Distinction in the Examination of Clinical Dental Practice. He then completed the postgraduate Membership of Joint Dental Faculties examinations and the prestigious Diploma in Implant Dentistry with the Royal College of Surgeons England. Following this, he completed the 1-year Foundation in Implant Dentistry supported by the International Team for Implantology and also completed a four years masters programme in fixed and removable prosthodontics.    Amit is an Educational Supervisor for East of England and train newly qualified dentists and was shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Young Dentist category at the Dentistry Awards.   In 2015 he won Highly Commended Best Young Dentist South Region and In 2017 and Young Dentist of the Year at the Dental Awards.

We’re pleased to have Dr Rupert Monkhouse on this week’s show. Rupert’s growing reputation in the world of dentures has led him to become pretty influential as we talk dentistry and Instagram.   Hear us chat about the ins and outs of prosthodontics, the ideal methods and techniques to create the most beautiful dentures and the best ways to communicate with patients.   Rupert shares his experiences in travelling, coaching, swimming and the big switch from NHS to private practice.    Enjoy!   “You know, for any patient, psychology is really, really important... It's all about sort of drip-feeding your thoughts throughout it. If you tell them it might be a mistake at the start it's consented. You know, if you say after the fact, then you're making excuses.” Rupert Monkhouse   In This Episode   01.16 - Growing up in the Midlands 02:29 - An athlete’s mindset 05.12 - A change of pace 08.59 - 543 16:22 - Prosthodontics 18:10 - Building good habits 23:01 - Ideal materials 25:29 - Gingival focus 31:55 - Travelling 34:59 - Going into teaching 37:53 - Pushing yourself 39:25 - Opening a practice 43:51 - NHS to private 46:05 - The psychology of the patient 48:35 - TMJ 52:02 - From Worcester to the big city 55:28 - Having a partner in the profession 56:43 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Rupert Monkhouse Rupert is from Worcester and qualified from King’s College in London. He then spent some time in Hull as part of his foundation training before moving back to West London where he still lives today.   Rupert’s main interest lies in prosthodontics where he plans to train further. His reputation as ‘The Denture Guy’ is partly thanks to his growing following on Instagram where he has set the standard for clinical photography as well as quality prosthodontics.    Away from dentistry, Rupert enjoys travelling, photography and swimming, which he still coaches. You can follow Rupert on Instagram at @dentistrupert and follow the Dental Leaders Podcast at @dentalleaderspodcast.

This week’s show features Harley Street Periodontist, teacher and entrepreneur Dr Reena Wadia.   Reena chats about London life and her journey to running her own business on Harley Street as well as sharing an invaluable insight into reaching for the stars.   Hear Reena cover life as a specialist periodontist, managing social media, building your own business and a successful personal brand.   Enjoy!   “If you don't enjoy something, there's no point doing it, like find something you enjoy and make that your career and make that your life” Reena Wadia   In This Episode   02.00 - London living 04:05 - Last years of uni 05.08 - Giving 100% 06.36 - Specialising in perio 12:28 - Dedication to study 17:00 - The most junior periodontist in the country 18:16 - Building a network 22:35 - Cosmetic perio 27:49 - Going into business 31:44 - Team values 38:15 - Finding balance 44:07 - Direct patient marketing 45:50 - Teaching 53:04 - Perio and the industry 01:00:06 - Genetics 01:02:43 - Owning a product 01:04:28 - Social media influence 01:09:23 - Paid media 01:11:42 - Being vegetarian 01:13:42 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Reena Wadia After being a high achiever during her studies at Barts, she undertook a four-year specialist course at King’s College which she passed with distinction.   She also spent time as Senior House Officer at Guy’s Hospital and split her time between restorative and oral surgery. Now working as an associate specialist at King’s College Dental Hospital, Reena is also based at RW Perio on Harley Street where her practice is limited to periodontal care.

We’re super excited to welcome onto this week’s show wavemaker and Harley Street cosmetic dentist, Payman Sobhani.   Payman talks about success on Instagram, DJing in Ibiza and running an award-winning practice.    Hear Payman cover the art of composite bonding, making memories at uni and working with family on Harley Street.   Enjoy!   “Someone's coming to you in pain, you've got them out of pain at a time when you didn't have space to do it, and then I might do something weird, just be like, you know, don't worry about it. Don't pay for it this time. Just bring me someone else...” Payman Sobhani   In This Episode   02.52 - Uni up North 06:31 - Having a brother on Harley Street 11.19 - Not having a closing time 18.18 - Qatar Embassy 19:33 - Beginning a business 24:26 - One-man-shows on Harley Street 25:20 - Bromley 29:43 - DJing 33:04 - Ibiza 33:30 - Dental beauty 35:50 - 49/51 split 39:08 - Portfolio critique 42:10 - Spotting potential 47:11 - General dentistry 50:42 - Implantology 54:24 - Staying within your scope 01:01:47 - Being a clinical director 01:09:44 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Payman Sobhani Payman qualified from Leeds Dental School in 2012 and held two associate positions in Stevenage and Harley Street. Payman’s interests lie in restorative and cosmetic dentistry.   Payman is a member of the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry and is the Clinical Director of Dental Beauty in Bromley and is also practising at 104 Harley Street, London.

We’re pleased to welcome onto this week’s show a multi-practice owner, entrepreneur and family woman Zayba Sheikh.   Zayba’s eye for marketing and business has seen her rise to the top with practices in Fleet Street, Nottinghill and Manchester.   Hear Zayba cover social media presence, opening her first practice and supporting future dental stars.    Enjoy!   “I'm obsessed with what I do, whether it's healthy or not healthy, it's an obsession. And sometimes the best people that are the most successful are the ones that are really weirdly obsessed with what they do.” Zayba Sheikh   In This Episode   01.40 - Growing up in London 04:25 - The flexibility of dentistry 07.29 - Children and holistic practice 11.18 - Opening the first clinic 15:22 - Being a good motivator 22:52 - Life coaching 25:37 - A football analogy 28:20 - Hiring right 30:22 - Social media presence 32:49 - Brand recognition 38:55 - Supporting young dentists 43:56 - Being in the present 48:26 - A day in the life 54:58 - Mother figures 58:22 - Travelling 01:00:00 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Zayba Sheikh Zayba qualified from the University of Birmingham in Dentistry and is a member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery.   Zayba plays a vital role in the development of the Healthcare Division of Sheikh Holdings as well as being a board member and principal investor.   Zayba has always put others first and is a Trustee of Cosaraf Charitable Foundation. She also created her own dental charity with Smita Mehra called the Neem Treet Foundation.

This week’s guest is international lecturer, teacher, implantology expert and all-around nice guy Dr Hassan Maghaireh.   Hassan shares his invaluable insight into the world of implantology. Plus, we take a look into his teachings at the British Academy of Implant and Restorative Dentistry.   Hear about Hassan’s love/hate relationship with social media and his passion for education and quality.   Enjoy!   “When it comes to implant dentistry, it's all about planning, planning, planning, planning and sharing that plan with your mentor, discussing and double-checking. Have no ego; whenever you get ego playing, that's when things go wrong.” Hassan Maghaireh   In This Episode   03.23 - Jordan to Cairo 05:04 - Hospital life 06.52 - Parental influence 05.56 - Results day 08:27 - Parental Advice 10:49 - Starting in implant dentistry 13:34 - Going global 16:10 - Providing quality 23:02 - Patient research 29:51 - Being a rounded GDP 36:10 - Spotting issues early 42:29 - BAIRD 46:38 - Batman & Robin 54:31 - Structuring pricing 58:22 - Travelling 59:56 - Social media 01:02:08 - Work/life balance 01:10:51 - Mentoring 01:14:04 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Hassan Maghaireh Hassan Maghaireh is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and has completed years of rigorous training in various maxillofacial units.   He holds a Clinical Master’s degree in Implant Dentistry from the University of Manchester won the best clinical presentation award in 2008.   Hassan is the head of the scientific committee at the British Academy of Implant & Restorative Dentistry and works on private implant referrals in Leeds and Northern Ireland.    He is a frequent author of dental literature, the editorial director of Smile Dental Journal and is a sought-after lecturer nationally and internationally. He is also on the editorial board for the European Journal of Oral Implantology.

Expanding your business empire by three times is no mean feat. But, that’s just what this week’s guests did - and then some.   We’re happy to welcome Dr Kish Patel and Dr Jin Vaghela as they share their valuable insight on successfully going into business as best friends and running not one, not two, but 12 practices.   Kish and Jin discuss their achievements in dentistry as well as their passion for growth. The Londoners also tell us about their journey from university parties to creating a harmonious work/life balance.   Enjoy!   “The thing is, with a lot of young dentists, they sometimes want to get on the practice ladder just to have that practice underneath their belt and say, I own practice. We're trying to try to help spread the knowledge and say, look, guys, your why has to be really, really on point when you're buying a practice. You have to do it for the right reasons.” Kish Patel   In This Episode   01.03 - DJing and free rides 02:15 - Choosing dentistry 05.04 - The game plan 05.56 - Results day 08:27 - Parental Advice 10:23 - Mentors 11:39 - We keep growing 13:53 - Buying a practice 17:20 - Approaching business together 18:31 - Strengths & skillsets 24:07 - Caring for your team 26:09 - Expanding 28:33 - Opportunities in a pandemic 32:49 - Stress management 35:33 - Recharging 37:52 - A day in the life 44:00 - Networks 49:30 - Educating dentists 51:28 - Marketing 55:26 - Symposiums 58:52 - Having confidence 01:01:57 - Forging relationships 01:09:00 - Three pieces of wisdom 01:10:33 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Kish Patel and Jin Vaghela   Kish and Jin both qualified from Guys Kings, London in 2007. The pair met on their first day of university and went into business together from an early point in their careers. Together, the pair now own Smile Clinic Group which currently boasts 12 practices.   Kish is a member of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons at the Royal College of Surgeons of England and works in General Practice.   Jin holds a fellowship of the Higher Education Authority, membership of the Dental Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh as well as membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons England.

In this episode, we welcome insight from Darren Cannell and Andy Stafford into building successful practices and turning old friends into business partners. Darren and Andy discuss their successes in dentistry, including running practices and giving patients quality treatments.    Darren and Andy also tell us about their journey from university to set up their own business in a Grade 2 listed building in Newcastle.   Enjoy!   “We wanted to deliver a level of dentistry that we thought wasn't available in the region at a time when there were big practices in Liverpool and Manchester and London. We looked and thought there isn't a landmark practice in Newcastle that was offering this really, really high-level service. So from the start, our vision was, let's just do unbelievable dentistry, let's have a surrounding that that looked like Harley Street.” Andy Stafford   In This Episode   01.51 - Meeting one another 08:07 - Uni life and study 08.49 - Going into business with freinds 09.59 - Finding direction 13:06 - Heading to the North East 14:44 - Buying a Grade 2 listed building 22:04 - Mentors 26:16 - Hiring right 29:15 - Approaching problems together 34:35 - Splitting responsibility 37:38 - Invisalign 39:28 - Expanding 41:42 - Opportunities in a pandemic 45:17 - Work-life balance 46:44 - A day in the life 51:52 - Outside dentistry 57:53 - Dental trends 59:20 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About Darren Cannell and Andy Stafford   Andy Stafford After graduating from Newcastle University in 2001, Andy pursued a career in private restorative/cosmetic dentistry. He has managed a chain of successful teeth whitening clinics across the North of England.   He has used virtually all teeth whitening systems on the market today and has a portfolio of over 500 completed whitening procedures to date. He co-founded both The Cosmetic Dental Clinics in Durham and the heart of Newcastle with Darren Cannell.   Darren Cannell Darren Cannell also graduated from Newcastle University Dental School in 2001. After graduating, he was awarded the prestigious James Coltman Award, an individual honour awarded for overall skill in Operative Dentistry.   He became an established restorative/cosmetic dentist, working out of two very successful practices across the North West. He co-founded both The Cosmetic Dental Clinics in Durham and in the heart of Newcastle with Andy Stafford.

In this episode, we welcome expert insight from James Martin into growing investments and trading in stocks and shares. James discusses his successes with Bitcoin and Crypto and his day job as a dental associate.   James also tells us about his journey from Northern Ireland to Leeds, setting up his own podcast and creating engaging courses.   Enjoy!   “You know, Father Ted. That is like the zenith of comedy in Ireland. OK, and whilst I'm not saying that people in England, you know, they don't get it or they don't like it, but I don't know if you quite call it the pinnacle of comedy, this very there's other things like I don't really know. I think I really like Peepshow. I think that's the pinnacle of comedy..”  James Martin   In This Episode   01.51 - Northern Ireland to Leeds 03.31 - Yorkshire Culture 06.08 - Learning dentistry 07.26 - The basics of investment 08:41 - Trading 13:26 - Reading recommendations 15:02 - Diversifying your portfolio 18:52 - Bitcoin 22:07 - The value of money 24:03 - Legitimisation 28:22 - Starting in Bitcoin 32:37 - Time frames 34:25 - Spread betting 36:57 - To own or not to own 39:21 - Being a happy associate 41:42 - Tax 45:20 - ISAs 53:35 - Wrong wallets 56:57 - General dentistry 01:07:00 - Enlighten 01:01:18 - Dentists Who Invest podcast 01:07:07 - Investment tips 01:10:10 - Legacy & last days on Earth   About James Martin   James Martin is a 29-year-old GDP who founded the online community and podcast Dentists Who Invest.   After training at Tipton, James has proven to be hugely dedicated to his work achieving a PGCert in restorative and pending PGDip in operative dentistry after CoViD-19 restrictions are alleviated.   Working in private practice from a young age allowed him to gain a broad depth of experience far beyond what could be expected of a typical GDP. These treatments include treating the organic causes of TMD (not just automatic referral), full mouth rehabs, clear aligners, experience with CADCAM and Enlighten whitening and much more.   In his spare time, he enjoys playing football, going to the gym and reading as well as socialising with friends and family.

In this episode, we welcome insight into growing business values from Sandeep Kumar. Sandeep discusses his successes with Invisalign, House of Fraser and his multiple practices up and down the country.   Sandeep also tells us about his journey from Punjab to the UK, setting up MiSmile and prioritising health and family.   Enjoy!   “And I remember after year 12, me and my dad and my brother were sitting, and we couldn't get our head around - what shall we do? Do I want to do engineering? Do I want to do medicine? Or want to do dentistry? And I still remember that day I called my mum while I was there and I said, “Mum, we don't know what to do.” And mum said, “I always wanted one son to be an engineer and one to be a doctor, but the rest is up to you. It's up to you.”  Sandeep Kumar   In This Episode   01.48 - Growing up in Punjab 08.15 - Learning the trade 10.28 - Coming to the UK 14.15 - Adjusting to the UK 16:08 - Starting in dentistry 20:38 - Birmingham Dental Hospital 26:55 - Setting up your practice 32:09 - Adding value to your practice 33:12 - Opening a second practice 36:22 - Invisalign 40:43 - House of Fraser 43:19 - Finding the confidence to be ambitious 46:36 - Managing multi-sites 50:50 - MiSmile 58:41 - MiSmile Academy 1:04:20 - Quitting clinical dentistry 1:08:49 - A day in the life 1:13:43 Legacy & last days on Earth   About Sandeep Kumar   Sandeep qualified as a dentist in India and moved to the UK in 1999. He gained his GDC registration in 2000 and bought his first dental practice in 2003.   Thirteen years later, he now works in both the Private and NHS sectors. He runs one of Birmingham’s largest NHS practices and owns the brand Smile Stylist, which has multiple locations across the UK and MiSmile. He also runs the UK’s first Invisalign only clinic and the MiSmile Invisalign Network, comprising independent dental clinics across the country.   Sandeep became certified with Invisalign in 2007 and is now one of Invisalign’s leading providers in the UK, submitting over 400 cases per year. He’s also one of the UK’s only Diamond Providers.   Highly regarded by Align Technology, he often speaks in clinical on marketing roles and shares his Invisalign journey and experience with fellow practitioners.