The Dental Head Start Podcast

Hosted by Dr David Keir Everyone’s talking about it. Everybody wants a mentor. That’s what they’re looking for when they graduate. Who’s your mentor, and are you putting the effort in? This is the dental mentoring sessions podcast by dental Head Start, real world mentoring every fortnight. I’m Dr David Keir, a practice owner, mentor and someone who’s been exactly where you are. The goal of this podcast is to share real world lessons I’ve learned and discussions I’ve had while mentoring my team, but why keep that behind closed doors? We want to help dental students and graduates become great dentists. So we’re turning what we do week in week out into a fortnightly podcast for you all to benefit from. But I don’t claim to know it all. Everything I share comes from years of absorbing information, making mistakes and being mentored by some of the best in the field, and I’ll try to reference those great mentors along the way. If you’re a young dentist wanting to grow and you’re putting the work in, then this is for you. In this episode of the Dental Mentoring Series, I chat about the tricky topic of dental costs and how to talk about them with patients. I share why it’s so important to really understand your own pricing and how to explain it clearly—especially when patients push back or say, “That’s too expensive!” I also walk through a four-step approach I use to handle those kinds of conversations: acknowledge their concern, explain the why, offer some options, and give them the space to decide without any pressure. It’s all about building trust and understanding what’s really behind the objections. Key moments 01:25 The Importance of Communication in Dentistry 07:05 Managing Patient Objections 14:27 The Four-Step Process for Handling Objections 24:00 Identifying Underlying Concerns in Patient Objections Thank you to our sponsors of this episode… Dental Protection Limited Dental Protection have proudly been supporting the Dental Head Start podcast since day one! The Dental Protection team understands the ever-changing challenges faced by dental professionals and we take our responsibility to members seriously. Our professional protection package helps you practise with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are always by your side if things go wrong. With over 40 years protecting Australian dental professionals, we have the global stability and financial resilience to be by your side for a lifetime of support, even in the most uncertain times. Dental Protection membership is free for students and new graduates and includes access to professional indemnity, support and advice when you need it, free CPD and a whole lot more.  Join today at https://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/join Dental Advice Network This episode of the Dental Head Start Podcast is proudly supported by Dental Advice Network. Whether you’re one year out or forty, we all have clinical questions—and it’s OK not to have all the answers. That’s exactly why the Dental Advice Network exists. With leading experts like Dr Omar Ikram (Endodontist), Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen (Oral Medicine Specialist), Dr Steven Parker (Dental Sedationist), Dr Manu Ayer (Specialist Anaesthetist), Professor Ian Myers (Restorative expert), Dr Kar Mun Chan (Specialist Paediatric Dentist) and Associate Professor Geraldine Moses (Dental Therapeutics and Pharmacology expert), it’s your go-to place for clinical advice, case support, and evidence-based insights. From medication queries to red flags in oral pathology—or even just a second opinion—Dental Advice Network connects you to trusted voices in dentistry and medicine, including an in-house medical doctor. You’ll also get access to clinical webinars, CPD content, and curated updates to stay ahead in your practice. It’s peace of mind, peer support, and education—all in one place.  And for Dental Head Start listeners, we’ve teamed up with Dental Advice Network to bring you an exclusive 10% discount when you subscribe. Just use the code HEADSTART10 at checkout. Plus—if you’re a first-year graduate, you already get a massive 50% off. Check them out at dentaladvicenetwork.com.au, and thank you to Dental Advice Network for supporting the next generation of dental professionals and the Dental Head Start podcast. Dental Practitioner Support  Dental Practitioner Support is Australia’s first national 24/7 telephone and online service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the dental field. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience, this free, confidential, and independent service is here to guide and reassure you through any challenges you face. From mental and physical health to workplace concerns and general wellbeing, their experienced team is ready to provide tailored advice whenever you need it. Save their number—1800 377 700—or visit www.dpsupport.org.au The post Dental Mentoring Series #3 – Why is it so expensive? Handling objections appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Dr David Keir Everyone’s talking about it. Everybody wants a mentor. That’s what they’re looking for when they graduate. Who’s your mentor, and are you putting the effort in? This is the dental mentoring sessions podcast by dental Head Start, real world mentoring every fortnight. I’m Dr David Keir, a practice owner, mentor and someone who’s been exactly where you are. The goal of this podcast is to share real world lessons I’ve learned and discussions I’ve had while mentoring my team, but why keep that behind closed doors? We want to help dental students and graduates become great dentists. So we’re turning what we do week in week out into a fortnightly podcast for you all to benefit from. But I don’t claim to know it all. Everything I share comes from years of absorbing information, making mistakes and being mentored by some of the best in the field, and I’ll try to reference those great mentors along the way. If you’re a young dentist wanting to grow and you’re putting the work in, then this is for you. In this episode of the Dental Mentoring Series, we dive deep into one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of dental treatment: local anaesthesia. As dentists, we know our technical skills matter, but patients primarily remember how we made them feel. I’ll share practical techniques to make local anaesthesia more comfortable, discuss strategies for managing patient anxiety, and provide insights that can transform your approach to this fundamental dental procedure. Whether you’re a dental student or a young practitioner, these tips will help you create a more positive patient experience Key moments 0:07:18 – Importance of doing anaesthesia correctly the first time 0:11:22 – Techniques for managing anxious patients, especially children 0:15:22 – Advanced anaesthesia techniques (intraosseous, intraligamentary) 0:17:45 – Discussion on how infection affects local anesthesia effectiveness 0:18:30 – Closing remarks on patient perception and communication Dental Protection Limited Dental Protection have proudly been supporting the Dental Head Start podcast since day one! The Dental Protection team understands the ever-changing challenges faced by dental professionals and we take our responsibility to members seriously. Our professional protection package helps you practise with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are always by your side if things go wrong. With over 40 years protecting Australian dental professionals, we have the global stability and financial resilience to be by your side for a lifetime of support, even in the most uncertain times. Dental Protection membership is free for students and new graduates and includes access to professional indemnity, support and advice when you need it, free CPD and a whole lot more.  Join today at https://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/join The post Dental Mentoring Series #2 – Mastering Local Anaesthesia: Patient Comfort and Technique appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Dr David Keir Everyone’s talking about it. Everybody wants a mentor. That’s what they’re looking for when they graduate. Who’s your mentor, and are you putting the effort in? This is the dental mentoring sessions podcast by dental Head Start, real world mentoring every fortnight. I’m Dr David Keir, a practice owner, mentor and someone who’s been exactly where you are. The goal of this podcast is to share real world lessons I’ve learned and discussions I’ve had while mentoring my team, but why keep that behind closed doors? We want to help dental students and graduates become great dentists. So we’re turning what we do week in week out into a fortnightly podcast for you all to benefit from. But I don’t claim to know it all. Everything I share comes from years of absorbing information, making mistakes and being mentored by some of the best in the field, and I’ll try to reference those great mentors along the way. If you’re a young dentist wanting to grow and you’re putting the work in, then this is for you. Key moments 0:02:30 – Definition of a mentor: “Someone who supports you along the path you’re already going on” 0:04:00 – How to find a mentor: networking, reaching out, being humble 0:05:20 – Sponsor mention (Dental Protection Limited) 0:06:00 – First key lesson: “The buck stops with you” – taking responsibility for your own growth 0:07:30 – Importance of consistent effort in growth 0:08:30 – Advice on preparing before asking a mentor for help 0:10:01 – Don’t reinvent the wheel immediately, learn fundamentals first 0:12:00 – Importance of thinking critically and not blindly following advice 0:13:30 – Finding a mentor who aligns with your values 0:17:30 – Stay coachable and maintain a humble, open-minded approach Dental Protection Limited Dental Protection have proudly been supporting the Dental Head Start podcast since day one! The Dental Protection team understands the ever-changing challenges faced by dental professionals and we take our responsibility to members seriously. Our professional protection package helps you practise with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are always by your side if things go wrong. With over 40 years protecting Australian dental professionals, we have the global stability and financial resilience to be by your side for a lifetime of support, even in the most uncertain times. Dental Protection membership is free for students and new graduates and includes access to professional indemnity, support and advice when you need it, free CPD and a whole lot more.  Join today at https://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/join The post Dental Mentoring Series #1 – Navigating Your Dental Career Success appeared first on Dental Head Start.

@dr.haydynbathurst Welcome back Dental Head Start listeners! we’re on part two now of our communication series with @drpeterdayman. If you haven’t listened to the first episode, please go back and listen to that one. This episode, in particular, dives into how we can talk to patients about what we can restore and what we can’t restore. Again, if you’re just graduating, this will be extremely helpful for you to be able to communicate well with your patients. Warning, this episode is not G rated, and there are a few expletives. Got you interested. Let’s go! Key moments 0:01:02 Handling Patient Cost Concerns 0:06:31 Addressing Previous Dental Work 0:10:57 Patient Diet and Oral Hygiene 0:15:36 Treatment Planning Approach 0:16:31 Advice for Dental Students and Recent Graduates 0:20:57 Professional Development Dr Peter Dayman Dr Peter Dayman is a dentist in Potts Point that has been working for 30 years. Peter is an experienced and passionate dentist who has spent his career educating other dentists and educating himself in the art and science of his profession. Dr Dayman is heavily involved with CEREC and over the last decade has taught hundreds of dentists in the use of the same day restorative system. He achieved a clinical diploma in orthodontics in 2016 and a Masters in Oral Implantology from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists: the world’s largest dental implant organisation. An expert in pain management and general dentistry he has special interests in sleep apnoea, root therapy treatment and aesthetic dentistry. He is the resident dentist of the ABC appearing regularly on Phillip Clarke’s Nightlife Dental Practitioner Support is Australia’s first national 24/7 telephone and online service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the dental field. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience, this free, confidential, and independent service is here to guide and reassure you through any challenges you face. From mental and physical health to workplace concerns and general wellbeing, their experienced team is ready to provide tailored advice whenever you need it. Save their number—1800 377 700—or visit www.dpsupport.org The post Tip #147: Communication: Effective patient interaction for new graduates with Dr Peter Dayman appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to What I Wish I Knew by Dental Head Start. This is a podcast where we learn from people that have been there, made the mistakes, learnt the lessons and have developed into the accomplished dental professionals they are today. It’s your weekly mentoring session. Hosted by Dr Hieu Dong I’ve heard it. You’ve probably heard it. The whisperings throughout the clinics and the dental school whores, the reels and memes you’re sending to your mates. Is biomimetic dentistry the new thing. And do I desire to be a biomimetic dentist? Today’s guest is no foreigner to the field of biomedic dentistry. @dradisawant – He’s been posting some epic work online, and I was super excited to get him on to chat all things deep margin elevation. In dental school, we’re taught all the traditional theories of dentistry, things that have been proven to work for decades and decades, and we gotta believe in it like gospel. Don’t get me wrong, it’s super important to learn these fundamentals and apply them, but if you’re like me, and you start peeping into the real big, wide world of dentistry, you realize the world is changing, and the field of dentistry is constantly evolving with exciting new research and techniques. Today’s discussion really shook me to my core, and I’m still trying to process all of it. Dr Addy goes into depth on all the fundamentals you need to know on DME, and walks us through the clinical workflow to restoring beautiful teeth, the controversies, the bonding systems and the research papers. This episode is jam packed full of it all. So grab a notebook and a pen and enjoy this epic chat we have. Key moments 0:04:10 Explaining Deep Margin Elevation (DME): 0:06:32 Benefits of DME: 0:13:57 Prerequisites for DME: 0:30:00 Adhesive Systems and Bonding 0:45:00 Clinical Recommendations 0:52:24 Benefits of Immediate Dentine Sealing (IDS): Dr Aditya Sawant Dr Aditya Sawant is a general dentist based in Ballarat and Greater Melbourne, Victoria. Dr Adi has brought his university experiences in rural NSW back to Victoria and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry, with a keen interest in Adhesive Dentistry and Oral Surgery. Expanding on his interests, he is now a lecturer with Biomimetic Aesthetic Dentistry (BAD), aiming to introduce dentists to modern biomimetic and advanced adhesive techniques. An avid CPD consumer, he has completed close to 260 hours of CPD in the last 2 years across a variety of disciplines. He is currently completing a diploma with the gIDE implant institiute as well as his Certificate in Clinical Dentistry with General Dental Residency, for whom he is also an ambassador. Away from the dental chair, Adi is happiest with family and friends, at the gym and finding all the good food and coffee Melbourne has to offer Dental Practitioner Support is Australia’s first national 24/7 telephone and online service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the dental field. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience, this free, confidential, and independent service is here to guide and reassure you through any challenges you face. From mental and physical health to workplace concerns and general wellbeing, their experienced team is ready to provide tailored advice whenever you need it. Save their number—1800 377 700—or visit www.dpsupport.org The post Tip #146 – Biomimetic Dentistry: Exploring Deep Margin Elevation and Immediate Dentine Sealing with Dr Aditya Sawant appeared first on Dental Head Start.

David delivers another insightful focus episode, this time for dental students. Drawing from over eight years of professional experience as a practice owner and dental professional, David shares five critical insights he wishes he knew during his time as a dental student: Building professional networks Learning from early mistakes Developing emotional resilience Maintaining physical wellness Strategic career planning David share’s his personal experience, practical advice, and motivational insights, making it a valuable resource for dental students navigating their educational and early professional journey. Key moments 0:06:00 – Networking Create connections with friends, tutors, specialists Build a professional network that will support you throughout your career Reach out and make connections, even if you’re an introvert 0:08:30 – Making Mistakes Early Use dental school as the cheapest form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Take on difficult cases and learn from them Gain hands-on experience while you can 0:10:15 – Emotional Resilience Develop strategies to manage stress Learn to handle self-doubt Find ways to manage emotional challenges (mindfulness, exercise, talking) Don’t let clinical stress consume your personal life 0:14:30 – Physical Wellness and Ergonomics Develop good posture and ergonomic habits early Prevent long-term physical issues like back and shoulder pain Use tools like loops to maintain better positioning 0:16:45 – Planning Your Future Career Start thinking about your first job early Consider mentorship opportunities Research practices that align with your career goals Reach out to potential employers in advance Episode sponsor: Dental Practitioner Support  Dental Practitioner Support is Australia’s first national 24/7 telephone and online service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the dental field. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience, this free, confidential, and independent service is here to guide and reassure you through any challenges you face. From mental and physical health to workplace concerns and general wellbeing, their experienced team is ready to provide tailored advice whenever you need it. Save their number—1800 377 700—or visit www.dpsupport.org The post Things I wish I knew focus series #2 – As a new student with Dr David Keir appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Dr Haydyn Bathurst Welcome back Dental Head Start Listeners to todays episode on communication. With me in this episode is Dr Peter Dayman. I reached out to Dr Dayman after listening to his interview on ABC Nightlife with Phillipclarke. A lot of us may be too young to be listening to ABC radio, but it was my parents that had listened to Dr Dayman’s episodes on the ABC, in which he handles all sorts of curveball questions from the audience and makes it look easy how well he is able to explain the ways in which dental disease can manifest and what the listener can do about it. This episode is extremely helpful for those just graduating entering the real world of dentistry, with gems here and there to help you communicate well with your patients. Warning, This episode is not G rated and there are a few expletives. Got you interested? Let’s get into it. Key moments 0:04:16 – Handling complex cases like vertical root fractures 0:10:09 – Dealing with patient questions about a dentist’s age and experience 0:15:04 – Explaining periodontitis to patients in simple terms 0:20:07 – Using visual aids and metaphors (like the “barnacle” analogy) to explain dental conditions 0:21:19 – How to explain to a patient that a tooth is unsavable 0:25:27 – Advice on avoiding “herodontics” and making responsible treatment decisions 0:28:54 – Ethical considerations in dentistry, particularly for new graduates 0:30:39 – Balancing financial pressures with patient care and ethical standards Dr Peter Dayman Dr Peter Dayman is a dentist in Potts Point that has been working for 30 years. Peter is an experienced and passionate dentist who has spent his career educating other dentists and educating himself in the art and science of his profession. Dr Dayman is heavily involved with CEREC and over the last decade has taught hundreds of dentists in the use of the same day restorative system. He achieved a clinical diploma in orthodontics in 2016 and a Masters in Oral Implantology from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists: the world’s largest dental implant organisation. An expert in pain management and general dentistry he has special interests in sleep apnoea, root therapy treatment and aesthetic dentistry. He is the resident dentist of the ABC appearing regularly on Phillip Clarke’s Nightlife. Episode sponsor: Dental Practitioner Support  Dental Practitioner Support is Australia’s first national 24/7 telephone and online service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone in the dental field. Whether you’re just starting your career or have years of experience, this free, confidential, and independent service is here to guide and reassure you through any challenges you face. From mental and physical health to workplace concerns and general wellbeing, their experienced team is ready to provide tailored advice whenever you need it. Save their number—1800 377 700—or visit www.dpsupport.org.au The post Feature #97 – Communication: Confident and ethical patient interaction with Dr Peter Dayman appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to What I Wish I Knew by Dental Head Start. This is a podcast where we learn from people that have been there, made the mistakes, learnt the lessons and have developed into the accomplished dental professionals they are today. It’s your weekly mentoring session. Hosted by Dr Haydyn Bathurst You may not realise it but as we get older, so too do our teeth. Not only is there increased wear and tear on the outside of teeth which may seem obvious, there is also morphological changes on the inside of teeth as well. In today’s WIWIK I explore with Dr Arosha Weerakoon the physiology of the aging tooth and how it is relevant to getting an adequate bond in our restorations. Key moments 0:00:13 – Physiology of the Aging Tooth 0:08:09 -Challenges with Bonding to Mature Dentin 0:11:30 – Adhesive Techniques and Materials 0:16:57 – Adhesive Techniques and Materials 0:18:54 – Final Thoughts and Recommendations Dr Arosha Weerakoon Dr Arosha Weerakoon is the owner of Tewantin Family Dental. She is also a lecturer (hon) with a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD from the School of Dentistry, University of Queensland.  Arosha’s PhD thesis is titled, ‘Dentine, Adhesive Interfaces & Physiological Ageing’. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fouchard Academy. Arosha is the Assistant Secretary for the International Dental Ethics and Law Society and a member of the Clinical Council for Country to Coast, Queensland. In recognition of her commitment to professional learning and development, Arosha was awarded the 2022 BOQ Specialist Practice Bursary for Dental Excellence from the Australian Dental Association (QLD). In 2019, Arosha was awarded the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant. In the same year, Arosha won the top prize, The Vice Chancellor’s Award, for her research pitch titled, ‘It’s about bonding with fillings’ hosted by Universities Australia. As part of her prize, Arosha completed an internship at The Conversation Media Group Headquarters in Melbourne. To date, she has published eight articles promoting oral health with The Conversation Media Group. Arosha believes that community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration and patient empowerment is the key to improving oral and general health for all. The post Tip #145 – Aging teeth and its implications for dental restorations with Dr Arosha Weerakoon appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Dr Haydyn Bathurst Hello Dental Head Start listeners, welcome back to our feature series! Today’s guest is Dr Arosha Weerakoon. Dr Arosha wears many hats in the dental industry, a practice owner of Tewantin family dental, a lecturer at the University of Queensland where she also obtained her pHD in Dentine, Adhesive Interfaces & Physiological Ageing. This is only just scratching the surface and how I met Arosha was that as some listeners may know she is a fellow Colgate Advocate for Oral Health. In this episode we follow Arosha’s journey of being a dentist and how she evolved from one role to the next. If you identify with wanting to be a practice owner, researcher, or lecturer, this episode is for you! Dr Arosha Weerakoon Dr Arosha Weerakoon is the owner of Tewantin Family Dental. She is also a lecturer (hon) with a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD from the School of Dentistry, University of Queensland.  Arosha’s PhD thesis is titled, ‘Dentine, Adhesive Interfaces & Physiological Ageing’. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fouchard Academy. Arosha is the Assistant Secretary for the International Dental Ethics and Law Society and a member of the Clinical Council for Country to Coast, Queensland. In recognition of her commitment to professional learning and development, Arosha was awarded the 2022 BOQ Specialist Practice Bursary for Dental Excellence from the Australian Dental Association (QLD). In 2019, Arosha was awarded the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant. In the same year, Arosha won the top prize, The Vice Chancellor’s Award, for her research pitch titled, ‘It’s about bonding with fillings’ hosted by Universities Australia. As part of her prize, Arosha completed an internship at The Conversation Media Group Headquarters in Melbourne. To date, she has published eight articles promoting oral health with The Conversation Media Group. Arosha believes that community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration and patient empowerment is the key to improving oral and general health for all. The post Feature #96 – Embracing Lifelong Learning: An Interview with Dentist, Researcher, and Educator – Dr. Arosha Weekaroon appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Hieu Dong All throughout dental school, my friends and I have always dreamed about where we’d be in 5, 10, 20 years time. Who will be a specialist, a practice owner or not even a dentist anymore! Now that my time at dental school is coming to an end, I’ve been reflecting a lot about where we will all be ending up, a time to finally step into the real world and make the decisions for what we want in our lives. In this episode, I’ve brought on Dr Caroline Nguyen, a practice owner and mum and she shares with me all her stories from leaving dental school to opening up her practice, making decision to have kids and everything in between. I know a lot of my friends are thinking about getting married, starting a family and how to balance their career with it all. Today’s chat w Dr Caroline gave me so hope and excitement about all that is to lie ahead and how we can plan our timelines into the future. Dr Caroline Nguyen Dr. Caroline Nguyen is a highly accomplished dentist and the proud owner of Vivid Dental in Five Dock, where she has been practicing full-time since 2011. What sets Dr. Nguyen apart is her remarkable career consistency; she worked at Top Gum Dental Surgeons for seven years before launching her own practice—an impressive tenure that’s rare in dentistry. She graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney. Her passion for education also led her to become a clinical educator at the University of Sydney’s Dental Hospital, tutoring students in tooth conservation and endodontics. Beyond her practice, Dr. Nguyen has made significant contributions to the dental community. She has served on the executive council of the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch) and held leadership roles in the Australian Asian Association of Dentists. Her expertise spans across both clinical practice and leadership. The post FEATURE #95 – Planning Your Timeline: Career, Kids, Practice Ownership appeared first on Dental Head Start.