The Dental Head Start Podcast

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.

If you’ve been a long time listener of the podcast, you may recognise some familiar voices in this episode! In this month’s Feature, Dr David Keir and Dr Graeme Pearson are back on the show to catch us up on their dental journeys and in particular, on their implant journeys. Both David and Graeme have taken different approaches to their further education in the realm of implants. Whilst Graeme took a deep dive straight after graduation, is doing a GradDip and works within a surgically focused practice, David has done more online education over the years and recently undertook an overseas placement to get more experience having not had a mentor in the practice. In today’s episode, they both share the pros and cons, the challenges and lessons they’ve discovered so far in their chosen paths. 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 utilise 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. The post FEATURE #88 – Our Implant Journeys with Dr Graeme Pearson & Dr David Keir 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. If you’re struggling with treatment plans and communication I have absolutely no doubt this is going to help you. We have Dr Mark Hassed joining us. Mark is a general dentist who runs courses on communication and efficiency. Spending his early career learning and focusing on these topics led him to run two different successful practices and later to consult and mentor hundreds of dentists in this field. Mark generously shares his wisdom in the following areas: The advice he would give to his younger self Be busy Learn communication Accurate diagnosis Clear treatment plans before starting treatment Cutting back from 5 1/2 to 4 days resulted in increased productivity Communication can be learnt by everyone An example of how he would present a $20k+ case Efficiency tipsWear loupesMake precise cuts, don’t slowly abrade the tooth As a dentist do dentistry and delegate everything else. Focus is a huge part of productivity Links www.therelaxeddentist.com 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 utilise 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. The post FEATURE #87 – [Re-Run] Communication with Dr Mark Hassed appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to the Mental Wellbeing Series by Dental Head Start. Join us across a limited series of episodes as we delve into the world of mental health and explore strategies and tips to improve our overall well-being.  Hosted by Dr Kaejenn Tchia In today’s episode I discuss the importance of mental resilience in Dentistry with Dr Kyle Stanley. We also delve into some of the factors at play that make dentists and dental professionals more likely to suffer from burnout and mental health challenges, as well as some solutions and communities you can join to feel more supported and thrive in your career.  Free Masterclass: https://courses.lightsidedentistry.com/the-mentally-resilient-dentist-masterclass-opt-in-earned-evergreen-1  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkylestanley/?hl=en  Light Side Academy: https://lightsidedentistry.com/  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Drkylestanley Dr Kyle Stanley Dr. Kyle Stanley, named “The Next Generation of Cosmetic Dentistry” by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, “The Top 10 Young Educators in Dentistry” by the Seattle Study Club, and “World’s Top 100 Doctors in Dentistry” graduated from USC and then went on to complete a dental implant residency and dental implant specialty in Brazil. He is a researcher who has published in some top dental journals about esthetics, implants, and plastic surgery topics. With his company Pearl, he is changing how patients are treated through artificial intelligence and is a leader in this field. Dr. Stanley is the most prominent advocate of mental health in dentistry and through his Light Side Academy has helped countless dentists reduce burnout for a sustainable career in dentistry. He maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills, focusing on implant surgery and prosthetics. AHC – What You Should Know Webinars Have you ever thought, “I want to be even more involved dental?” or “What else can I do in dental?”. But, it’s very difficult to put away all the achievements we have done to become a dental clinician. AHC Dental Ed is running a free webinar with Dr Cathleen Dong on Creative Career Pathways in Dentistry. As part of their mission to help graduates accelerate their growth and reach their utmost potential, AHC is running a series of free online webinars on What You Should Know. Join us at 7:00pm AEST on Monday the 23rd of October 2023 with Dr. Cathleen Dong on the What You Should Know Webinars (WYSK)! Register for FREE here at: https://www.graduateacceleratorprogram.com/creativecareersindentistry Dental Practitioner Support Dental Practitioner Support is the first national 24/7 telephone and online service to support dental practitioner health and wellbeing in Australia. The service is free, confidential and independent. Remember, good practice involves seeking support when you need it. Dental practitioners can call and speak to an experienced team ready to provide advice on a wide range of issues, including mental and physical health, workplace issues and general wellbeing. Call them anytime you need, and even save the number in your phone so that it’s there on the day that you need it. 1800 377 700 or visit the website www.dpsupport.org.au The post Mental Wellbeing Focus #5 – Mental Resilience in Dentistry  with Dr Kyle Stanley appeared first on Dental Head Start.

As a new grad, it’s almost the norm rather than the exception nowadays to have at least some form of digital dentistry within one’s practice. But it wasn’t always this way, and for many more seasoned dentists, the world of digital dentistry was something they had to slowly piece together over the years and learn to leverage.  In this months’ feature, we explore Dr Lingaiah Dronavalli’s journey in dentistry from his early years as a new grad with huge expectations but without the tools, resources and mindset to grow and how that overall affected his feeling of fulfillment, to where he is today – a self proclaimed dental peacock who takes pride in his work!  We talk about Dr Lingaiah’s discovery of digital dentistry and CEREC specifically, and how that’s not only shaped his growth as a clinician, but also how it’s taught him to leverage technology to maximise efficiencies and workflows within his practice and ultimately optimise the entire patient experience. We explore the concept of practice ownership and associateship and the importance of building mutually supportive environments within the practice. Dr Lingaiah Dronavalli Dr Lingaiah Dronavalli graduated from Griffith University in 2010 and now owns two of his own dental practices. He is all too familiar with the feeling of feeling inadequate, having lofty expectations for his career as a young dentist, and letting that fear of failure and lack of follow through stunt his growth. The biggest change in his career came from a shift in mindset and his discovery of digital dentistry.  Dr Lingaiah’s journey with CEREC has helped him grow immensely as a clinician over the years and brought back the passion that was missing in his career. He now loves being able to spread his passion with fellow colleagues by discussing cases and sharing clinical tips via his Facebook group ‘CEREC for Success’, as well as through running regular courses to help clinicians learn to leverage technology in their practices, both for themselves and their patients. Join the CEREC to Success group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1237480790514216/ Admetec Loupes by Byron Medical Lightweight, sturdy and stylish, Admetec’s refractive Ergoloupes are designed to optimise your posture, so you’re not popping a disc trying to prep the distal of that 47. Level up your scales and cleans when you can actually see every tiny fleck of calculus fly off the tooth. With a tiny wireless battery that clips on magnetically and switches out seamlessly even mid procedure, say goodbye to getting tangled in your wires and the painful indents on your nose bridge from having to support heavy loupes. Byron Medical are Australian based, and are quick and easy to get in touch with and address any issues you have. They’ll even come to your workplace for your initial consult and fitting session.  For more information, visit https://www.byronmedical.com.au And don’t forget to mention Dental Head Start, to get a $100 massage voucher with your purchase! Dental Practitioner Support Dental Practitioner Support is the first national 24/7 telephone and online service to support dental practitioner health and wellbeing in Australia. The service is free, confidential and independent. Remember, good practice involves seeking support when you need it. Dental practitioners can call and speak to an experienced team ready to provide advice on a wide range of issues, including mental and physical health, workplace issues and general wellbeing. Call them anytime you need, and even save the number in your phone so that it’s there on the day that you need it. 1800 377 700 or visit the website www.dpsupport.org.au OrthoEd Exclusive Discount for DHS Listeners If you want to learn from these exceptional courses and teachers, sign up with the following codes to get 10% off their ENTIRE RANGE of courses! Available to dental students and graduates within 5 years of graduation. The post FEATURE #86 – CEREC To Success & The Patient Experience with Dr Lingaiah Dronavalli 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 Erica Hwin It’s common practice nowadays to encourage parents to bring their children in early to familiarise themselves with the dental appointment. But beyond chair rides, gloved animals and triplex tickles, what else can we do to help empower parents during these appointments?  This is Part 3 of our series with Dr Shereen Lim on Sleep Disordered Breathing and Airway Health in young children. If you haven’t already be sure to check out Part 1 (TIP #125 – Childhood Bruxism: A Case Study) and Part 2 (TIP #128 – Teeth, Tongues & Tonsils) In this episode, we talk about the different stages of growth in children and the things we can help educate parents on to look out for including feeding, thumb sucking and dummy use.  Dr Shereen Lim Shereen Lim is an Australia-based dentist with a post graduate diploma in dental sleep medicine from the University of Western Australia. She was one of Australia’s first handful of dentists to obtain a qualification in dental sleep medicine. She has been involved in managing snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea for over a decade and has seen the physical, developmental, mental, and emotional problems that are often associated with these breathing disturbances throughout the lifespan. Her mission is to highlight root causes and promote airway health, or a shift from managing disease and symptoms towards ensuring healthy nasal breathing and good airway development from infancy. She works in private practice and has a special focus on unlocking greater health and wellness through addressing tongue ties, oral dysfunction (during infant feeding, swallowing, breathing, chewing, and speech), and guiding good jaw development during childhood. Find Dr Shereen Lim’s book Breathe, Sleep Thrive https://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Sleep-Thrive-Discover-potential/dp/0645553212 OrthoEd Exclusive Discount for DHS Listeners If you want to learn from these exceptional courses and teachers, sign up with the following codes to get 10% off their ENTIRE RANGE of courses! Available to dental students and graduates within 5 years of graduation. Dental Practitioner Support Dental Practitioner Support is the first national 24/7 telephone and online service to support dental practitioner health and wellbeing in Australia. The service is free, confidential and independent. Remember, good practice involves seeking support when you need it. Dental practitioners can call and speak to an experienced team ready to provide advice on a wide range of issues, including mental and physical health, workplace issues and general wellbeing. Call them anytime you need, and even save the number in your phone so that it’s there on the day that you need it. 1800 377 700 or visit the website www.dpsupport.org.au The post TIP #134 – Empowering & Educating Parents on Breathing & Growth with Dr Shereen Lim appeared first on Dental Head Start.