

The Dental Head Start Podcast
Dr David Keir
The Dental Head Start podcast is made to help dental students become great dentists. You cant google the path to dental success, but you can learn from those already there. We interview dentists who have achieved what you’re striving for and get the story behind the struggles, the successes and the advice they want you to hear. Get the head start you need in your dental career.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 14, 2023 • 37min
TIP #127 – LA For Children with Dr Deborah Wong
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
Whether you love treating kids or not, as dentists, we play such a crucial role in shaping their attitude towards coming to the dentist and taking care of their oral health. Dentistry today is so different to what is was for the older generation, and our goal is to nurture safe and comfortable environments for children so that they are motivated to come in for regular check-ups, to look after their teeth and to let us treat them. And perhaps one of the most important steps, but also the step that can make or break the appointment, is how well you can numb them up.
In this episode, we are joined with Dr Deborah Wong, a paediatric dentist based in Melbourne, to talk all about the LA experience for children. From children’s perception of pain to communication tips and clinical considerations, this is a jam-packed episode filled with wonderful insight you can bring along to your next appointment with your little patients.
Dr Deborah Wong
Dr Deb Wong is a specialist paediatric dentist with her own private practice in Maribyrnong, Melbourne. Originally from Wollongong, New South Wales, Deb completed her undergraduate dental studies at the University of Adelaide, receiving the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, Malcolm Joyner Prize and was a past Adelaide University Dental Students’ Society president. After working as a general dentist, Deb moved to Melbourne and completed specialist paediatric dentistry training at the University of Melbourne. Her research on the medical and dental aspects of chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome has been published internationally. More recently, Dr Deb completed a Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology, in order to better care for her little ones.
Dental Protection Limited
Dental Protection we’re the first to come on board supporting dental students and graduates through the Dental Head Start Podcast and now they’re stepping up again by release the new publication Young Dental Practitioners as well as the Survival guide, their e-Learning platform ‘Prism’ and Sign up for Risk Wise Connect. Find it at the links or on their Facebook Page.
The Dental Summit 2023 by AHC
The Dental Summit 2023 is a conference for dentists in all phases of their careers. They’ve brought together some of the greatest minds in dentistry who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm so that you, too, can reach your summit.
Two days of incredible lectures, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney, from leading experts and a cocktail night to network with fellow dentists and specialists. It is the must-attend dental event of 2023.
Register now at https://www.tds23.com and use ‘DHS10’ to get 10% off your ticket purchase!
The post TIP #127 – LA For Children with Dr Deborah Wong appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Jun 7, 2023 • 19min
TIP #126 – The State of Saliva with Dr Samantha Byrne
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 Haydyn Bathurst
Saliva… or rather spit! We’re told it’s important to test saliva at school but does knowledge about the patients saliva change the way the patient is treated? What can findings in our saliva cultures tell us about diseases such as Alzheimer’s or infective endocarditis? Joining us again to talk all things oral environment is none other than the wonderful Dr Samantha Byrne. Later on in the piece Samantha lists off a paper that we will have the link to in the show notes along with ways you can reach her if you have any questions for today’s episode. Stay tuned! Link to the article: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201659
@_the_tooth_fairy_
Dr Samantha Byrne
Samantha Byrne is a senior lecturer in Oral Biology, and Divisional Lead Oral Education and Innovation at the Melbourne Dental School. Samantha has been awarded multiple times for her teaching of Oral Microbiology to Doctor of Dental Surgery and Bachelor of Oral Health students.
She has a keen interest in learning and teaching, particularly the incorporation of practices which enhance student engagement and active learning. Samantha completed her PhD in 2006 where she explored the microbial composition of dental plaque associated with periodontal disease progression. This work was recognised by the Australian and New Zealand division of the International Association of Dental Research with the Oral Biology Award in 2010. She maintains a research interest in the microbial aetiology of chronic periodontitis and dental caries and supervises Doctor of Clinical Dentistry and Bachelor of Science Honours students. Her current research interests also include the use of social media as a platform for the dissemination of oral health information. Samantha is also currently studying for a Doctor of Education with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education examining pre-class learning on the flipped classroom.
The Dental Summit 2023 by AHC
The Dental Summit 2023 is a conference for dentists in all phases of their careers. They’ve brought together some of the greatest minds in dentistry who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm so that you, too, can reach your summit.
Two days of incredible lectures, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney, from leading experts and a cocktail night to network with fellow dentists and specialists. It is the must-attend dental event of 2023.
Register now at https://www.tds23.com and use ‘DHS10’ to get 10% off your ticket purchase!
Dental Protection Limited
Dental Protection we’re the first to come on board supporting dental students and graduates through the Dental Head Start Podcast and now they’re stepping up again by release the new publication Young Dental Practitioners as well as the Survival guide, their e-Learning platform ‘Prism’ and Sign up for Risk Wise Connect. Find it at the links or on their Facebook Page.
The post TIP #126 – The State of Saliva with Dr Samantha Byrne appeared first on Dental Head Start.

May 31, 2023 • 23min
TIP #125 – Childhood Bruxism: A Case Study with Dr Shereen Lim
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
As dentists, we are one of the very first people to be looking inside a child’s mouth and picking up on potential signs that may be reflective of the way that they are sleeping, breathing, eating, growing, and thriving overall. I know oftentimes I have young parents bringing in their children and asking me how their child developing and if there is anything they can do differently.
Fortunately, this is Dr Shereen Lim’s area of expertise and over a series of episodes we will be discussing everything to look for from childhood bruxism, to sleeping patterns, bad habits tongue ties, diet and feeding, and jaw development. In this first part, we’ll be diving into a case study of a little girl that I saw just the other day with severe bruxism, and how we would go about managing her situation.
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
AHC – What You Should Know Free Webinar Series
Have you ever done a filling on a front tooth, thought it looked great when you had your patient upside down, but when they sit up and face you, you realise something isn’t quite right but you can’t quite put a finger on it?
On the podcast we always say, we don’t know what we don’t know. The brain doesn’t understand what the eyes don’t see, and the aesthetic smile is one of these things.
Australian Hands On Courses is running a free webinar with Dr Paul Jay Hwin on smile design and simple techniques and sequencing steps to help master your composite veneers. 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. Aesthetic Dental Smile Designs & Anterior Composites is Module 4 of the series and will be a live webinar next Monday 5/6 @ 7pm AEST. Spots are limited so make sure you sign up via the link in our show notes and stay in the loop for the ongoing series which is free for all students and graduates.
https://www.graduateacceleratorprogram.com/mastering-cosmetic-dentistry
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 #125 – Childhood Bruxism: A Case Study with Dr Shereen Lim appeared first on Dental Head Start.

May 28, 2023 • 1h 33min
FEATURE #83 – The Reality of Dentistry Post-Graduation with Dr Cathleen Dong
Hosted by Dr Erica Hwin
There is so much stress and anxiety that comes with graduating and entering the real world of dentistry, and it’s so easy to get swept up in it all. As new grads, at some point in our first few years there will be a moment where we hit a bit of a wall, when the magic and glamour starts to fade, and we’re left to wonder, “Is this it? Is this what I want to be doing? Is this all there is?”
Are you in love with dentistry? I’m not sure if it’s a conversation we often talk about, but I’m sure it’s something we all think of.
After sustaining a back injury that left her unable to work for four months, Dr Cathleen Dong was forced to reflect on her dental journey – what she enjoyed, what she didn’t, what was rewarding and what she wanted to change or pursue. In this episode, we dive into her story. We talk about exploration, about dabbling in different avenues to find out what it is that we enjoy and thrive in, and we dissect the whole concept of finding fulfilment in what we do.
Dr Cathleen Dong
Dr Cathleen Dong graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Dental Science in 2016. During university, she was actively involved in dental student committees on both a local and national level. Cathleen enjoys being a part of ADA NSW and is a Board Director, Councillor and the current Chair of the Recent Graduates Committee as well as the Education and Research Committee. She is passionate about providing resources and consistently improving membership value for recent graduates in addition to championing the importance of career sustainability in the profession. Cathleen also works as a Clinical Educator tutoring final year Charles Sturt University dental students. Having started her career in the public sector, Cathleen currently works in private practice on the Central Coast. Outside of dentistry, she co-founded JOGOWEAR – a medical apparel brand specialising in streamlined, functional and innovative scrubs.
Dental Protection Limited
Dental Protection we’re the first to come on board supporting dental students and graduates through the Dental Head Start Podcast and now they’re stepping up again by release the new publication Young Dental Practitioners as well as the Survival guide, their e-Learning platform ‘Prism’ and Sign up for Risk Wise Connect. Find it at the links or on their Facebook Page.
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
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 special added bonus with your loupes.
The post FEATURE #83 – The Reality of Dentistry Post-Graduation with Dr Cathleen Dong appeared first on Dental Head Start.

May 24, 2023 • 54min
Mental Wellbeing Focus #2 – Overcoming Challenging Career Circumstances with Dr Martin Mendelson
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 chat with Dr Martin Mendelson, our second international guest on the DHS podcast from the USA, all about how to overcome challenging career circumstances. We also discuss the importance of mindset and that there is no cookie cutter approach to a dental career.
Home
Dr Martin Mendelson
Dr. Martin Mendelson is a leading speaker and founder of Metamorphosis Coaching, specializing in team cohesion, communication, and building happier, more productive teams. Dr. Mendelson turned a devastating medical disablement from his clinical career into a passion for helping leaders through the science of mindset and positivity. He has worked with thousands of medical professionals and business leaders from all over North America to feel less burdened by leadership, empowered to resolve challenges before they grow out of control, and create transparent and open cultures where leaders and team members excel, thrive, and love.
With his certifications in Executive Coaching, Team Coaching/Facilitation, Emotional Intelligence, and Happiness Studies, he has spent almost 20 years working with leaders to become happier and more fulfilled, and build happier, more fulfilled teams. His insights have been featured in nearly a dozen podcasts, and he has been featured in Voyage Phoenix and Shoutout Arizona Magazines as a standout thought leader. As a team facilitator and speaker, he can help any team or business leader remove the burdens of leadership via his T.E.A.M. approach to create meaningful Transparency, Engagement, Alignment, and Mindset.
Home
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
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 special added bonus with your loupes.
The post Mental Wellbeing Focus #2 – Overcoming Challenging Career Circumstances with Dr Martin Mendelson appeared first on Dental Head Start.

May 17, 2023 • 21min
TIP #124 – What is AI Machine Learning and its Future in Dentistry? with Dr Hanna Pethani
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 Haydyn Bathurst
All this talk of AI machine learning, but what does this mean for dentistry? Am I going to be able to plug in a bitewing radiograph and the computer can tell me where the caries is for me? Join Dr Pethani and Haydyn Bathurst as they discuss all the breakthroughs and limitations to all things machine learning in dentistry.
Dr Hanna Pethani
Dr Hanna Pethani is a highly accomplished and dedicated dental professional and a PhD student in the Biomedical Informatics and Digital Health department at the School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney.
Dr Pethani earned her dental degree from The University of Sydney and went on to complete the rigorous requirements to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Australasian Dental Surgeons. Her expertise in clinical dentistry and passion for improving patient outcomes led her to pursue further academic endeavours. Currently, as a PhD student, Dr Pethani is conducting cutting-edge research on natural language processing to extract data related to social determinants of health and reasons for unplanned returns to dental centres from Electronic Dental Records.
With her unique combination of clinical expertise and technical skills, Dr Pethani’s work has the potential to transform the way dental care is delivered, particularly in identifying social determinants of health that impact patient outcomes. Her research has significant implications for improving the quality of care and developing new interventions and policies in dental health. Dr Pethani’s dedication to continuing education and commitment to advancing dental research and practice make her a valuable asset to the dental profession and academic community.
Dental Protection Limited
Dental Protection we’re the first to come on board supporting dental students and graduates through the Dental Head Start Podcast and now they’re stepping up again by release the new publication Young Dental Practitioners as well as the Survival guide, their e-Learning platform ‘Prism’ and Sign up for Risk Wise Connect. Find it at the links or on their Facebook Page.
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 special added bonus with your loupes.
The post TIP #124 – What is AI Machine Learning and its Future in Dentistry? with Dr Hanna Pethani appeared first on Dental Head Start.

May 10, 2023 • 1h 6min
Mental Wellbeing Focus #1 – Positive Psychology in Dentistry with Dr Mahrukh Khwaja
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 chat with Dr Mahrukh Khwaja about the how positive psychology can help us thrive in our dental careers. This is our first international guest on the DHS podcast all the way from UK.
Dr Mahrukh Khwaja
Dr. Mahrukh Khwaja is a dentist, positive psychologist, accredited mindfulness teacher, and the founder and CEO of Mind Ninja, an award-winning wellness start-up dedicated to improving mental health and resilience among dental professionals. Mind Ninja’s comprehensive range of training, coaching, and wellness products, including the signature Mind Flossing Toolkit, have been implemented by a diverse range of organisations, including Unilever, Colgate, NHS Health Education England, King’s College London, Acteon, British Dental Association, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
Dr. Khwaja has been named Top 50 in Dentistry two years in a row (2022 and 2021) by FMC for her work on Mental Health in Dentistry. She is also the author of the upcoming book Resilience and Well-being for Dental Professionals, published by Wiley-Blackwell. Email her on mahrukh@mind-ninja.co.uk or connect with her on Instagram @mindninja.wellbeing.
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 special added bonus with your loupes.
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 #1 – Positive Psychology in Dentistry with Dr Mahrukh Khwaja appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Apr 26, 2023 • 23min
TIP #123 – The Pigmented Lesion with Dr Michelle Kang
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 Haydyn Bathurst
From learning all things oral pathology in school we learn to memorise specific pictures in textbooks that we spot in exams and go ‘Yes! I’ve seen this pathology before!’ however when it comes to actually seeing oral pathologies in the mouth, particularly the pigmented lesion, it can get very confusing between what is normal, and what isn’t, particularly as we learn to look at wide ranging demographics of patients when first starting out. With me again is oral medicine specialist Dr Kang, and we look at what things to be aware of when spotting pigmented lesions, and what actions we can take to making sure we are providing essential care to our patients.
Dr Michelle Kang
Dr Michelle Kang is a board registered Oral Medicine Specialist. Her current roles include: Staff Specialist at Sydney Dental Hospital, Visiting Dental Specialist for Hunter New England LHD, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead in Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology at Charles Sturt University and works at private practices in Sydney and Newcastle.
Growing up in New Zealand, Dr Kang completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery at the University of Otago in 2011. Following graduation, she worked as a general dentist in public and private clinics throughout regional and metropolitan NSW. Dr Kang completed her specialist training through the University of Sydney and graduated with a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Oral Medicine).
Dr Kang has multiple publications in international peer-reviewed journals and is a reviewer for the European Journal of Dental Education. She is dedicated towards research and was selected to participate in the Research Leadership Training Programme by the World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO IARC) in 2022.
Her clinical interests include managing oral manifestations of systemic diseases, conditions affecting the salivary glands, oral mucosal diseases (including paediatric patients) and orofacial pain. She is passionate about providing multidisciplinary, integrated patient care and improving the quality of life of patients.
Outside her clinic/academic roles she enjoys travelling, singing (hoping to join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs again soon!) and is an adventurous foodie.
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 Dental Summit 2023 by AHC
The Dental Summit 2023 is a conference for dentists in all phases of their careers. They’ve brought together some of the greatest minds in dentistry who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm so that you, too, can reach your summit.
Two days of incredible lectures, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney, from leading experts and a cocktail night to network with fellow dentists and specialists. It is the must-attend dental event of 2023.
Register now at https://www.tds23.com and use ‘DHS10’ to get 10% off your ticket purchase!
The post TIP #123 – The Pigmented Lesion with Dr Michelle Kang appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Apr 23, 2023 • 1h 14min
FEATURE #82 – Business, Motherhood and Leading Women in Dentistry with Dr Vicky Prokopiou
Hosted by Dr Erica Hwin
For many of us, perhaps one of the biggest reasons and deciding factors that led us to choose dentistry, was the work-life balance it would afford us. The flexibility in our working hours and a steady income that may one day allow us stability to settle down, work less days and have time to raise a family. But perhaps this is much easier said than done. There’s so much you want to do and learn and achieve, and before you know it, you’re struggling to juggle everything all at once.
In this episode, with Dr Vicky Prokopiou, as someone who has been there and risen above it, we talk all about it – from her early years starting up a practice from scratch, to uprooting and moving to a small rural community of 3000 people 6 hours away from Sydney, and starting a family. We learn about the challenges she faced and overcame that has now bred the enthusiastic and positive mindset she has towards life. We talk about raising a family, about IVF and how to juggle the different hats of being a dentist, businesswoman and a mum. It’s a conversation we don’t talk a lot about, but something very very real. So join us for this episode, and let’s get above it!
Join the Women in Dentistry Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenindentistrydrvicky/
Exclusive access to Dr Vicky’s Mindfulness & Meditation videos: Thrive Reset https://youtu.be/tL4Z7CzIH-4The Present Moment: https://youtu.be/CZhoq-NlKgYSelf Love Meditation: https://youtu.be/6N0XqZuXlyEHealing Bell Sounds https://youtu.be/03fVrBalcuw
Dr Vicky Prokopiou
Since graduating from dentistry in 2010, Dr Vicky has started up and operated three metro and rural dental practices from scratch. Having experienced burnout due to overworking, she knows just how easy it is to lose sight of work-life balance. She is the founder of Above It, where it is her mission to coach women in dentistry worldwide and share her love, wisdom and experience to get life-changing transformations.
Her passion lies in communication, training, teaching, identifying opportunities, thinking laterally, problem-solving, persistence and leading teams. She has been featured in Bite Magazine, 9 News, was a NSW Regional Business Awards Finalist for ‘Excellence In Innovation’, Finalist for ‘Outstanding New Business’ in the Inner West Local Business Awards and at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
Instagram: @vickythedentist
Facebook: m.me/dr.vicky.prokopiou
Email: hello@aboveit.com.au
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
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 special added bonus with your loupes.
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 #82 – Business, Motherhood and Leading Women in Dentistry with Dr Vicky Prokopiou appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Apr 19, 2023 • 18min
TIP #122 – How to Section with Dr Cecilia So
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
If there’s one thing I wish dental school taught me better, perhaps second only to how to luxate properly, it would be how to section a tooth.
Picking up a surgical bur for the very first time can be so daunting. Where do I drill? What do I drill? How far down do I go? In this episode, Dr Cecilia So talks us through the step-by-step process of sectioning a tooth and the landmarks you should hit so that you can do it controlled and predictably every time. So if you want to learn how to save another poor tooth from snapping into root tips that you can’t dig out, then stick around for this episode.And if you haven’t already, check out our previous episode with Dr Cecilia So on TIP #118 Extractions…Pick Your Battles Wisely.
Dr Cecilia So
Dr Cecilia So is a dentist with practice limited to surgical dentistry and oral implants. After completing an undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery (Hons) degree at the University of Sydney in 2003, Cecilia went onto a hospital based surgical training post in the UK as a Senior House Officer, achieving her Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons with the Royal College of Surgeons, London, by examination in 2008. Her interest in oral implants led her to complete the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Oral Implants) USyd and she is now a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney both mentoring and lecturing and examining for the program. She is also involved as the Secretary of the Australian Osseointegration Society.
Cecilia has focused her professional interests on oral surgery and implant dentistry and enjoys being involved in teaching, with a particular interest in mentoring recent graduates.
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 Dental Summit 2023 by AHC
The Dental Summit 2023 is a conference for dentists in all phases of their careers. They’ve brought together some of the greatest minds in dentistry who will share their knowledge and enthusiasm so that you, too, can reach your summit.
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