DENTOLOGY - The Business of Dentistry

Our guest this week on Dentology is Shabnam Zai, co-founder of West House Dental, a private squat practice in Middlesex. Shabnam talks to Chris and Andy about her childhood, her time at dental school and the reasons why she decided to study dentistry over everything else. She talks about her early career working as an associate, her experience and the learnings gained along the way and the reasons why she decided to set up her own practice. She tells us about the decision process she went through when deciding to become a practice owner, why she decided that the Pinner Memorial Park was the ideal location, and what the journey to practice ownership was truly like. A great listen for all those looking to set up their own dream practice.   Topics: - Tell us about your childhood -  Why you chose to study dentistry - Tell us about your associate career through to the decision to become a practice owner - Your experience and learnings gained along the way - Setting up a new practice - The importance of location - Being a practice owner

Andy and Chris are joined this week by Gemma Barker, founder and managing director of Barker PR. As many of you will know, Gemma has been bravely documenting her breast cancer treatment and sharing her experiences with us all. In this episode, she talks openly about her experiences, and everything she has had to contend with whilst being a wife, mum, multiple pet owner and business owner! She talks about her work in the world of dentistry, how she started out her career, what the inspiration was to start her own company, Barker PR, and the many challenges she has faced along the way in the world of business. Topics: - Documenting your breast cancer treatment - The reasons why you decided to record and share your experiences - Pathway into dentistry - What was the inspiration to start Barker PR? - How tough did you find setting up a business from scratch? - How do you manage the work/life balance? - Dealing with your cancer diagnosis

Andy and Chris are joined this week by Kaival Patel, dentist and director of the Kana Health Group and Kana Dental Academy. In this episode, Kaival chats to Chris and Andy about his dental career, working as an associate for the first seven years and completing a Masters in dental implants during that time. He goes on to talk about his decision to buy his own practice – the first of many – and how he coped with the shift from being an associate to practice owner. Kaival now owns a growing group of practices and leads a Dental Academy providing post-graduate diplomas so spends 100% of his time focusing on the businesses. He talks about his decision to step away from clinical work and the steps he had to take to get to where he is today. A great episode – well worth a listen. Topics: - Your time at dental school and early career - Your decision to buy your first practice - The shift from associate to practice owner - Why did you decide to step away from the clinical work? - The stepping stones to get to where you are today - Tell us about your current group of practices & the Dental Academy

Barry Oulton joins us this week on the podcast. Barry is a dentist and leading inspirational business coach/mentor specialising in helping dental professionals bridge the communication gap. Chris and Andy chat to Barry about his early career, what prompted him to study dentistry and look back on his career pathway through to practice ownership.  Barry has worked in both NHS and Private practices and having owned two practices, he has a wealth of experience to share. Barry talks about his transition from associate to principal, reflects on how well he was prepared for the change and whether it was all he dreamt it would be. He goes on to talk about his current coaching business, The Confident Dentist Academy, and the how the training he offers for both associates and practice owners. Topics: - A look back at your childhood -  Studying dentistry at Leeds University -  Tell us about your career pathway to practice ownership -  How did you find the transition from associate to principal? -  What did you enjoy most about owning a practice? -  The Confident Dentist Academy -  What advice would you give to improve someone’s communication skills?

This week Andy and Chris are joined by Christian Henrici, founder of Opti Health Consultancy, the largest dental consultancy in Germany. In episode, Christian gives us an insight into his career, how he found himself working with the dental profession and his decision to set up the Opti Health Consultancy some 20 years ago.  He outlines some of the key services the company offers to the German dental profession, reflects on how that offering has evolved over the years to match the market and talks about the Opti summer school programme that offers supports to the next generation of dental practice owners in the country. Finally, he goes on to explain how the German market compares to the UK market and shares some interesting stats with Chris and Andy!    Topics: -  Tell us about your background and career journey to date -  How come you found yourself working with the dental profession? -  Your decision to set up Opti 20 years ago. -  Can you tell us the range of services you offer to the German dental profession? -  Was there the existing demand for your services back then or did you create the market? -  Market comparison: Germany v UK -  Explain more about the OPTI Summer School programme designed to support the next generation of dental practice owners

Our guest this week is Dr Victoria Sampson, co-founder and principal at The Health Society in Mayfair, a multi-disciplinary health centre with oral health at its core and the first oral diagnostic centre in the world putting the mouth back in the body.  Victoria chats to Chris and Andy about her inspiration for becoming a dentist and her dental school experience, having obtained her Bachelor in Dental Surgery from Barts and the London. She talks about her career to date, her decision to move fully into private work, and the dental practice in Mayfair she has recently opened with her sister.  She explains what makes the practice different from others and reflects on what it’s like being a new practice owner. She also talks about her decision to specialise in developing salivary diagnostics, microbiome testing and incorporating artificial intelligence into everyday care, an area in which she is now well-known both in the UK and worldwide.  Topics:   - Was dentistry on the cards from a young age for you given you had your sister for inspiration? - In what ways did you parents set you up for the person you are today? - Is artistry featuring more heavily than ever before in dentistry? - What was your dental school experience like? - Was it a push (away from the NHS) and a pull towards private for you? - Your work on the oral microbiome and salivary diagnostics. - Where did you interest in this speciality area come from? - Owning your practice, The Health Society.

Our guest this week is Nathan Welch, Practice Principal at Y Bont Faen Dental Centre. Nathan chats to Chris and Andy about his career choice, why he settled on a career in dentistry and his time spent studying at Cardiff Dental School. He goes on to talk his work, both private and NHS, and his decision to buy his practice back in 2021. Having been a new practice owner for the past 2 years, Nathan talks about his time as a new owner, shares some of the many lessons/experiences he’s had to date and talks about his work as an educational supervisor for dental foundation training. Finally, Nathan chats about his latest project setting up a new NHS squat practice and the activities that keep him busy away from dentistry. Topics: - In what ways did you parents set you up for the person you are today? - If you had your time again would you still choose dentistry? - Time spent studying at dental school - Becoming a practice owner in 2021 - What has practice ownership taught you so far? - Being an educational supervisor for dental foundation training - Tell us about your latest project, setting up a new NHS squat practice - What keeps you busy away from dentistry?

Cally Walker, founder and director of Connect my Marketing joins us this week on the podcast.  Cally is also a co-founder and director of Dental Mavericks, a UK based charity taking dentistry to areas where children and adults how no access such as Morocco, Lebanon and Greece. In this episode, Cally talks about her career and marketing work with dental clients located in the USA, Canada and UK and chats about her experiences working remotely from her base in Malaga, Spain. She tells Chris and Andy more about the data behind the marketing activities and campaigns she is working with her clients on, reflects on how she feels the use of social media has changed over the years and shares her thoughts on how she believes campaigns, and in particular dental marketing, will evolve in the future.   Topics: -  What was your pathway into supporting dentists? -  How come you have broadened your reach to both sides of the pond? -  When Covid hit, were you more prepared for ‘remote working’? -  Tell us about your marketing activities and campaigns. -  What sort of data do you have? -  What are the key areas dentists should focus on based on this data? -  How have you seen the use of social media use change over the years? -  How do you help your clients grow through increased conversions? -  Do you see culture featuring more heavily in campaigns these days? -  Where do you see the future of dental marketing going?

Our guest this week is Dr Sam Jethwa, award winning dentist and principal and founder of Bespoke Smile Cosmetic & Implant Clinic in Buckinghamshire. Sam is also Vice President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) and founder of the Bespoke Smile Academy. Sam talks to Andy and Chris about his dental career journey and what inspired him to become a dentist - or more importantly, what inspired him to become an innovative cosmetic dentist delivering the highest level of aesthetic dentistry. He chats about his years at dental school, how he spent his foundation year in Cornwall and his journey setting up the Bespoke Smile Academy in 2018, which now offers a full post-grad diploma, and also the Bespoke Smile Clinic in 2019. Sam also chats about his positive use of social media, predominantly Instagram, to share details and information about his work. Topics: - Your early years - Why did you become a dentist? - Studying at Kings in London & your foundation year in Cornwall - Setting up the Bespoke Smile Academy - Starting the Bespoke Smile Clinic - The Training Academy - Are we moving more towards a profession of specialists? - How do you find time away from your professional life to relax?

This week in the Dentology Podcast Andy and Chris discuss the best time to sell and exit your dental practice. They chat about why there’s not one rule that fits all and why, in their opinions, the right time is purely dependent on you and your personal circumstances.    They consider the key factors that you should take into account when you are planning your exit strategy and discuss why it’s important to plan so that you exit your business when the time, and value, are both right. To hear more from Chris and Andy about why you should always have a robust plan in place for selling your dental practice, have a listen to this episode.