The Dental Head Start Podcast

Rochelle Fisher, with 27 years of dental assistant experience, discusses the importance of well-trained assistants in dental practices. She highlights challenges faced by new dentists without formal assistant qualifications and offers solutions through her courses. The conversation covers the qualities of great assistants, communication in the dentist-assistant dynamic, and valuable advice for dental graduates. It emphasizes the impact of teamwork and clear communication on patient care and practice efficiency.

Join Christina Potestas in a fascinating discussion with Mirna Yousif, an experienced OHT who transitioned to working in orthodontics. Mirna shares insights on her university journey, supporting orthodontists, patient care collaboration, and advice for those interested in orthodontics. Learn about autonomy in treatment planning and the role of OHTs in enhancing patient satisfaction. Dive into the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in dentistry, emphasizing perseverance and continuous learning.

Rerun Series: Find your support network on social media. Picked by Christina Potestas This series of re-run episodes is a curated selection of interviews to help listeners cut through the noise of social media and start finding their support network of dentists who are actively sharing their expertise and life online. These interviews reveal more about the real person behind the Instagram profile – I hope that it opens doors to a network of potential mentors and starts what may be a guiding and inspiring relationship beyond graduation.  In today’s episode, I am throwing back the amazing chat between Dr Erica Hwin and Oral Medicine Specialist Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen. Not only is this one of my favourite episodes but one that provides answers to some challenges we may face in life as a dentist; from trying to fit everything in as a busy clinician, to finding the courage to say no and even simply being a female in the dental profession. Dr Nguyen shares clinical evidence, practical advice and her interest in oral medicine and pathology to her 6000+ Instagram followers so do yourself a favour and make sure to follow along as well. Links to her socials can be found below. Sit back and enjoy the re-run of What I Wish I Knew tip #94 – Standing your ground with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen. Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen Amanda is a Perth Oral medicine specialist, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia, and Consultant at Perth Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about oral medicine, and her professional roles include co-chair of the Australasian Sleep Association Dental Sleep Medicine Council, and is the College News Editor and an Examiner of Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. She is also on the Board of Studies in Oral Medicine for the RACDS. She is President of Women in Dentistry WA, Vice President of the Dental Specialists Society of WA, secretary of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons WA, Treasurer of the International Association for Dental Research (Perth region), on the board of directors of the Jaye Radisich Foundation and Uniting Smiles, and on various other committees. She was the former Vice President of the Australian Dental Association Western Australian (ADAWA). She represents her specialty at several multidisciplinary meetings and at the Ehlers Danlos Society. An accomplished international and national speaker, she is passionate about her speciality, regularly lecturing and teaching and sharing educational content online. Amanda has received multiple awards and commendations, including a peer review award, an ADA Valuable Service award and ADHF Wrigley Community Service Grant for her work.  A keen researcher and clinician, she regularly publishes and reviews for renowned journals. Her interests include oral mucosal disease, orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, dental sleep medicine and paediatric oral medicine. Facebook: /oralmedicineoralpathology Instagram: @oralmedicineoralpathology Youtube: AmandaPhoonNguyenOralMedicine Credabl Credabl is a team of medical finance specialists, passionate about fuelling the ambitions of the dental community. We enable dentists with finance that is quick, simple and backed by experience, so they can do it as big as they can dream it. Credabl offers a range of medical finance solutions, such as equipment finance, practice fitout finance, commercial property loans, car loans and home loans. Call the team today on 1300 27 33 22, or go to credabl.com.au. The post TIP #138 [RE-RUN] – Standing Your Ground with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Hieu Dong In this episode, we get a glimpse into the world of dental school and dental students in 2024. Join Nathan from Griffith Uni, Emily from UQ, Jack from USYD and Ashton from UWA as they share what a day in the life is like at their uni’s and give valuable advice for younger students. From the parties and fun to the grind and stresses of clinic, we unpack it all! If you’re a current dental student, we hope you can relate and find some encouragement from our conversation today. And if you’ve already graduated we hope this gives you a bit of a POV on what the next generation of dentists are up to. Nathan Lau (Griffith) Meet Nathan, a fourth-year dentistry student at Griffith University. Originally from America, he grew up in Singapore before settling in Australia for high school and university. Nathan is an alumni of Griffith’s Student Academy of Excellence and serves as the class representative for his cohort. Ever since his first year, he has also been deeply involved with the Griffith University Dental Students’ Association (GUDSA), having progressed from subcommittee roles to Head of Sports and finally President in 2024. Outside of university, Nathan enjoys hitting the gym, playing his guitar, and exploring the best eateries with friends. Fun fact: Nathan has climbed up Mount Everest Base Camp! Emily Lee (UQ) Emily is a 4th year dental student currently studying at the University of Queensland. She was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and came over to Brisbane to study dentistry. Emily is currently the president of the University of Queensland Dental Students Association (UQDSA) and was previously apart of the UQ Union as Herston officer in 2023. On her days off, she enjoys reviewing food around Brisbane, and enjoys practicing violin and playing badminton. Emily also is an avid photographer and you can catch her occasionally filming YouTube vlogs. Jack Awad (USYD) Hi everyone, I’m Jack, the 2024 President of the Sydney University Dental Association. I’m originally from Tamworth NSW, but have lived in Sydney for the past 6 years completing my undergraduate degree in Medical Science and now my DMD. I look forward to returning home to give back to my community when I graduate! Beyond my passion for dentistry I like spending time with family and friends, going to the beach and enjoying quality feeds! Ashton Foo (UWA) Hi my name is Ashton and I am a third year dental student from UWA. I enjoy doing dentistry because I am able to do practical work while also being able to communicate with patients. Outside of dentistry I enjoy going outdoors and spending time with friends and family. The post FEATURE #92 – POV: You’re a Dental Student in 2024 with Nathan Lau, Emily Lee, Jack Awad and Ashton Foo 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 Christina Potestas  Wow, we are well within the first semester this year and whatever part of our dental school journey we might be at, I think it would be pretty safe to say it’s only going to get harder before it gets easier at this stage. My guest in today’s episode is someone who has amassed over 1500 followers on social media by sharing her life as an OHT student and you can tell she’s a devoted one as she manages to share her oral health knowledge in such a way that would make the most anxious patient passionate about their smile. We caught up since wrapping up uni last year and talk about what we’re doing to thrive and survive another challenging year of school. Key moments: (0:00:02) – Kaitlyn’s journey to oral health therapy and current year/semester of study (0:01:38) – Kaitlyn’s current feelings about university (0:04:05) – What Kaitlyn enjoys about their degree so far and looks forward to (0:04:15) – Something that surprised Kaitlyn about the degree (0:06:19) – What Kaitlyn dislikes about university (0:07:32) – How Kaitlyn plans to improve their experience this year compared to last (0:09:34) – The role of university clubs and societies in providing additional support (0:12:51) – What Kaitlyn hopes to achieve this year Kaitlyn White Kaitlyn is currently a second year student studying oral health therapy at the University of Newcastle. She graduated from high school in 2021 and originally wanted to pursue nursing to become a paramedic. After one semester of nursing school, Kaitlyn realized it wasn’t the right fit for her. She then started working as a dental receptionist and assisting at a dental clinic, where she discovered her passion for oral health therapy. To gain experience, Kaitlyn completed a certificate in dental assisting and diploma in practice management. In her first attempt, she was accepted into the oral health therapy degree program at the University of Newcastle. When not studying, Kaitlyn enjoys socializing with friends, going to the beach, and participating in creative hobbies like crafting. She also serves as a social media manager for the university’s Oral Health Society (UNOHS) to help connect and support other OHT students. You can follow Kaitlyn’s journey on Instagram & Tiktok @kaitlyn.oht Kaitlyn is also the social media officer for the University of Newcastle Oral Health Society (@UNOHS) The post TIP #137 – OHT Student Spotlight with Kaitlyn White: Thriving and Surviving Uni appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Dr David Keir David and Tiffany sit down and uncover their similar experiences in their journeys to becoming the dentists they are today. Tiffany moved from New Zealand to pursue dental school in Australia and took a liking to the relaxed atmosphere that regional life gave just after graduating. After working for a few years, she took off on a hiking adventure in Nepal then learnt Spanish while travelling Central and South America. Tiffany shares the incredible experience and growth that travelling has given her and reminds listeners to not expect such opportunities to just land in your lap. Tiffany is about to finish her Perio postgraduate and talks about how she coped with the demands of clinicals and school all while becoming a new mother. Incredible huh? As if that wasn’t enough, Tiffany has recently created The Cusp Collective, a conference with a goal to inspire and empower women, reignite their curiosity and desire to learn, and create a community where women can openly discuss challenges and successes without judgement. Their very first event is coming in May 2024 and will be held in the Gold Coast; we are very excited about it all to say the least! Find out more about The Cusp Collective here:  Website: https://www.thecuspcollective.com.au/ Instagram: @thecuspcollective Facebook:/thecuspcollective Register to The Cusp Collective’s upcoming event here:  https://www.thecuspcollective.com.au/registration Dr Tiffany Chen Tiffany is the founder of The Cusp Collective and a periodontist-in-training at Griffith University. Alongside the demands of full-time study with a toddler, she also enjoys teaching in undergraduate clinics.  Tiffany is a lifelong learner and travel enthusiast. The insights gained throughout her life and career compelled Tiffany to advocate for gender parity, leading to the establishment of The Cusp Collective as a way to empower women in dentistry Credabl Credabl is a team of medical finance specialists, passionate about fuelling the ambitions of the dental community. We enable dentists with finance that is quick, simple and backed by experience, so they can do it as big as they can dream it. Credabl offers a range of medical finance solutions, such as equipment finance, practice fitout finance, commercial property loans, car loans and home loans. Call the team today on 1300 27 33 22, or go to credabl.com.au. The post FEATURE #91 – Empowering Women and Everything in Between with Dr Tiffany Chen 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 Christina Potestas  I wanted to dedicate this episode to all my peers and of course all dental students who will be reaching what I believe to be one of the biggest milestones of dental school and that is seeing your very first patient. In first year, It was something I always thought about, although an exciting thought it didn’t come without doubt in myself. I sat down with 2 very special people who I actually went to High school with, and who are now established dental clinicians practicing privately in Sydney. I remember them being such great, friendly personalities during highschool that I feel comfortable to turn to these two to ease my nerves of seeing my first patient and am delighted to share the chat we had with you all.  You listening may be a 2nd year ready to see your very first patient, or maybe you’re someone who knows someone who is about to endeavour on this part of their journey, Or you may just be curious about what these 2 have to say. Whoever you are, I hope you enjoy listening to the chat just as much as I did having it.  Dr Nicole Contemplacion Nicole graduated from Charles Sturt University with her dental degree and has gained 4 years of experience in private metropolitan and not-for-profit regional clinics. She’s a respected clinician in the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, formerly flying once a week every month from Sydney to Orange to provide dental services to her patients there. Nicole faced her first year out of uni in the grips of Covid lockdown, providing emergency care but was also allowed to utilise her clinical skills by delivering Covid vaccinations. She managed to continue growing confidence beyond graduation despite being slowed by the pandemic and now practices privately in Sydney with the goal of building her scope. Laura Righetto Laura completed her bachelor of OHT at USYD and has been a respected clinician for the last 10 years formerly working in the public sector for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health district and in a prestigious all on 4 implant and general dental surgery in Sydney. Laura is passionate about dental hygiene as well as airways and breathing and built solid experience in managing cases alongside Paediatric and ENT specialists. She hopes to continue her journey into tertiary education. The post TIP #136 – Seeing Your First Patient with Dr Nicole Contemplacion & Laura Righetto (OHT) appeared first on Dental Head Start.

In this episode, Hieu and Christina miraculously got a chance amongst their hectic schedules to catch up and get to know each other a little better. Like dental school, they joined the Dental Head Start team with two feet running so it was fun to chill for a sec and in fact discover that they have quite unique experiences and journeys into dental school so far; they might have also dropped a few study tips in there as well*. They also talk about how they joined the Dental Head Start team and what they hope to achieve as new co-hosts.  From Hieu and Christina: “We are very privileged to be part of this community and look forward to supporting the Dental Head Start cause. A huge thank you to David and his team for such an amazing opportunity.” *the flashcard software Christina refers to is called Quizlet Hieu Dong Hieu is a final-year dental student at the University of Sydney. Originating from the city of Perth, Hieu’s path in dentistry began with his undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, completing a Bachelor of Biomedicine. Now in DMD4, Hieu is on the cusp of transitioning from student life to the professional world of dentistry. He is excited to take on a host role for the Dental Head Start Podcast after working behind the scenes in socials and is keen to dive deep into conversations to not only prepare himself for the challenges ahead but also provide a valuable resource for other dental students. Christina Potestas Christina is just starting dental school. After 14 years experience in supportive practice roles, she has decided she now wants to sit in the clinicians chair. This year, she is transitioning her Oral Health study from one great university to another all while preparing to give birth in May. She is excited to remain connected to the dental community and to represent the OHT/Hygiene listeners of the Dental Head Start podcast. She hopes to learn and share lessons that help support OHT students just like her and create effective clinical teams in the practice. The post Feature #90 – Our Dental School Journeys So Far with Hieu Dong & Christina Potestas appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Today we have a fascinating discussion with Dr. Raghu Chennapati about helping new graduates transition smoothly into the dental profession. Dr. Chennapati has a unique perspective, having trained as a prosthodontist in India before moving to Australia and starting his career over as a general dentist. He shares insights from his own journey of navigating a new country and healthcare system while building his skills. Through both his personal experiences and mentoring many new associates, Dr. Chennapati has developed a framework of 10 key points that he believes are crucial for graduates to focus on. In our discussion, we delve into each of these 10 points, with Dr. Chennapati providing practical tips and stories from his experiences. Some of the highlights include the importance of connecting with your entire team, using tools like magnification and photography to continually improve your skills, and knowing when to refer out or hit pause on a procedure. We also discuss cultivating resilience through open communication and having backup plans. Dr. Chennapati emphasizes focusing on education, ethics, excellence, efficiency and patient experience. For any new graduate listening, I hope you find Dr. Chennapati’s wisdom and guidance as insightful and helpful as I did. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy our discussion with Dr. Raghu Chennapati.  MoreDent Going from zero to 1 in implant placement can feel like a quantum leap. We learn just enough at university to know that we don’t yet know enough, then spend crucial years solidifying the basics of dentistry. But where do you turn when you’re ready to start your own implant placement?  After years of learning theory, David was ready to go down this path and he was supported by Moredent, MGuide and the DIA courses including Live Surgery in Guatemala in July 2023. This has allowed David to not only go from zero to 1, but from zero to 30 and feel comfortable with each progression.  If you want to begin your journey into implants, or you simply want to be supported by a world class surgical guide and clinician support, then go to dentalheadstart.com/moredent to find exclusive DHS discounts and pathways to implant success. Or reach out to David directly to get his opinion on which steps you could take. Use code ‘HEADSTART’ to get a 12.5% discount on any local DIA course. Start your journey here. Start Your Implant Journey Here – 12.5% off Local Courses The post FEATURE #89 – How to become a confident, competent, and resilient dentist with Dr Raghu Channapati appeared first on Dental Head Start.

A/Prof William Ha, Endodontic Radiography expert, shares tips on taking PAs in endodontics and using apex locators, discussing the accuracy of apex locators compared to periapical radiographs. They also talk about the advantages of using rubber dam frames, making periapical x-rays comfortable, and techniques for endodontic radiography including different ring systems. Additionally, they explore factors to consider in re-treatment and mention the effectiveness of educators using social media and apps.