Podcasts about dental head start

David Keir is perhaps one of the greatest thinkers when it comes to helping new graduates start their dental career. David is the host of the Dental Headstart podcast created to help dental students become great dentists. David spent over 10 years dental assisting before graduating from The University of Sydney in 2016. The idea of Dental Head Start was born from the hopes of  sharing the lessons he's been lucky to learn along the way and helping others gain a head start also. Having spent many summer breaks in the Mid North coast, and even marrying his beautiful wife there, David is proud to now call Port Macquarie home.  When he's not busy with one of his endless side projects … which is a rare, you'll find David adventuring the great outdoors on his mountain bike or running in an ultra marathon.  [2:14] - Starting a podcast to self-learn and help new dental graduates understand the business of dentistry. [6:29] - Business was always the path … but not the start. [13:13] - How David and his wife turned a tremendous tragedy into a 1 year traveling adventure around Australia. [18:01] - What has an ultra marathon got to do with running a dentistry practice? [27:24] - Take a break … breathe … and give yourself the time to decide ‘what next'. [35:50] - Tips to accelerating your business growth. [41:03] - When you are pulled in many different directions in your business, how do you define what to focus on?

Hosted by Erica Hwin It goes without saying that a trait of our industry is being high achievers. What comes with big dreams is often big decisions, and when faced with too many, we can find ourselves inflicted by decision paralysis. What kind of dentist do I want to become, what kind of practice do I want to work at, what kind of people do I want to surround myself with? Do I want to specialise, do I want to go into research, do I want to become a practice owner or do I enjoy general dentistry for what it is? These are all decisions that can be very overwhelming. In this episode, we speak with Dr Alex Khominksy about his journey in dentistry, from a dental student with a hunger for knowledge, working his first year in a tertiary referral centre before transitioning into private practice, then beginning his post graduate training in periodontics, all the whilst co-founding the General Dental Residency on the side. The post FEATURE #78 – Overcoming Decision Paralysis as a New Grad with Dr Alex Khominsky appeared first on Dental Head Start.

When you've gone through so many years of dental school, the last thing you want to happen is to cut your career short due to a work-related health issue. You may have heard stories of dentists experiencing burnout or back pain or you may have experienced these things yourself already. So how can you maximise your career and avoid any health related issues that may set you back? Welcome back to the New Grad Focus Series. My name is Phillip Nguyen and I am a first year graduate and today we are joined by Dr Jean Wu and Associate Professor Matt Hopcraft. Dr Jean Wu is both a qualified Pilates and Movement Therapy instructor as well as a practicing GP dentist for over a decade. It is her passion to pass on the benefits of Pilates and movement therapy to the wider dental community as she believes it would make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of her colleagues. Associate Professor Matt Hopcraft has more than 25 years in the dental industry. He is a recognised leader and expert in dental public health and advocacy. As a dentist he has worked in the Army, private and public dental practices, as an academic at The University of Melbourne and is presently the CEO of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch. He is a strong advocate for improving access to care, healthy eating and mental health in the dental profession. Enjoy the episode! The post New Grad Focus #4 – Looking After Yourself as a New Graduate with A/Prof Matt Hopcraft and Dr Jean Wu appeared first on Dental Head Start.

As a recent graduate, getting into the field of cosmetic dentistry can be quite overwhelming. Not only does it require us to have good technical skills, but it also comes with discussing treatment plans, that we ourselves wouldn't even be able to afford. In today's episode, Dr Cigdem Kipel and Dr Mitesh Vasant assure us about how we can start to engage with our patients in improving smiles, along with what other instruments are out there to help us along the way. The post TIP #110 – Upskilling in Aesthetic Dentistry with Dr Mitesh Vasant appeared first on Dental Head Start.

When we're about to graduate from dental school and looking for a job, we always hear how it is so important finding the right job for us that will allow us to rapidly grow both clinically and non-clinically as a new graduate dentist. But with so many job advertisements all touting the same perks and equipment, how can we filter out a job that may hold us back from growth from one that will maximise our first year a dentist? Welcome back to the New Grad Focus series. My name is Phillip Nguyen and I am a first year graduate and today we are joined by Dr Steve Dudgeon and Dr Eli Burger who are co-CEOs of Avenue Dental, a group of practices on the Sunny Coast. And, they also happen to be my bosses and the guys I work for today. They have a passion for giving back to the dental community. They started the Australian Dental Graduate of the Year Award, the Mini-Residency Program as well as various other programs that help students and young dentists excel at the beginning of the careers. They are also passionate about how a supportive and fun workplace culture can lead to high quality dentistry and an outstanding patient experience. We discuss all the different factors to look for when choosing your first job out of dental school so if keep listening if you'd like to learn a few tips that may just help change the direction of how your first year will go. Enjoy the episode! The post New Grad Focus #3 – Finding The Perfect Job For You with Dr Stephen Dudgeon & Dr Eli Burger appeared first on Dental Head Start.

As dentists, where our primary goal is to help those in need, we need to remember that our patients aren't just mouths with problems we need to fix, but they are human beings with feelings and needs, goals and ambitions and stories we owe it to them to listen to. In his book, ‘Isn't It Wonderful When Patients Say Yes', Dr Paul Homoly introduces the concept of the Spectrum of Appeal - of red and blue language that shape the way we communicate with our patients. He is a leading voice on the topics of treatment acceptance for complete dentistry, practice development, and influential communications. In this episode, we get to hear Dr Homoly's unique journey in dentistry, and the passion he has for it that has led him to be the first dentist worldwide to earn the highest designation in professional speaking from the National Speakers Association. It was an absolute honour to speak with Dr Homoly, and it's a conversation I hope inspires you all! The post FEATURE #77 – Isn't It Wonderful When Patients Say Yes with Dr Paul Homoly appeared first on Dental Head Start.

There's no denying that the job hunting scene post-Covid has changed dramatically, and it's become a new grads' market. In this episode, we welcome back Dr Cigdem Kipel who sits down with Dr Mitesh Vasant, both of whom are practice owners, to break down the nitty gritty questions graduates should be asking when joining a practice.  What's the culture and environment like? How might it influence the treatment you undertake? What's the mentorship like and what can you bring to the table to contribute to the team? This is a great episode hearing from people sitting on the other side of the interview table, with insightful tips for new grads embarking on their dental journey The post TIP #109 – Questions to Ask Your Practice with Dr Mitesh Vasant appeared first on Dental Head Start.

During our time in dental school, most of us will only work in a setting treating patients within the public system. But the statistics show that about 90% of us will work in a private practice when we graduate. So do you know the differences between working in a public job vs a private job? In this episode, we are joined by Dr Bianca Lee and Dr Steph Ib and we speak about the core differences of working in these different sectors and how they can change our growth pathway. We discuss topics like remuneration structures, work/life balance, opportunities to extend your scope and much, much more. If you are a final year student or new graduate listening to this episode, I hope you learn something new and perhaps it will open your eyes to working in a sector that you had not thought about much previously. Enjoy the episode! The post New Grad Focus #2 – Public vs Private with Dr Steph Ib and Dr Bianca Lee appeared first on Dental Head Start.

The transition from being a student to a fully qualified dentist is one of the biggest periods of change we go through and it's something that isn't taught at all at university. In this episode, Dr Margaret Tran joins us to go through all the essential things you will need to have organised before you start your first day of work. Not only do we go through the specific requirements of each license and number, but also the nuances of each application and how to minimise the delay in receiving each which will ultimately allow you to begin work sooner! This episode is a must to listen to as it will make the transition to working so much easier, smoother and stress-free. The post New Grad Focus #1 – Your Checklist Before Starting Work with Dr Margaret Tran appeared first on Dental Head Start.

If the mission statement of Dental Head Start is to help dental students become great dentists then I really am the guinea pig for it. In this episode, we are joined by David Keir who founded DHS to talk about his advice for me as a soon-to-be fully fledged dentist. In this episode, we talk about finding your feet in that first year out, the effect of the practice you work at and the boss you work under. How CPD is crucial but also not everything and how there are so many other resources we can tap into to upskill. For all my fellow graduating classmates, this is such an exciting time for us! Congratulations for making it this far, and let's get it! The world is ours to make. The post TIP #108 – Growing As A New Grad with Dr David Keir appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Perhaps one of the most common findings we'll come across charting, is discovering cracks in teeth. Now here comes the conundrum of how bad is that crack, should we fix it and how should we go about fixing it? In this episode, we sit down with Dr Michael Mandikos, a specialist prosthodontist, to crack the code. We talk about diagnosing cracks, how to manage them and we tackle the age old debate of… do you chase the crack? The post TIP #107 – The Cracked Tooth with Dr Michael Mandikos appeared first on Dental Head Start.

With over 44 years of experience in the dental industry, Kathy Metaxas knows a thing or two about dental practices. She is the founder of Platinum Professional Development, a motivational speaker, dental educator, coach and advocate for patient care and management, fostering strong team culture and implementing systems to ensure dental practices can function at the optimal potential. One of the things we love doing on the podcast is bringing on people who aren't necessarily dentists, but are fundamental and integral to our industry. We all know a dental practice is only as good as its staff, and in today's episode Kathy talks us through it all. We talk about leadership, teamwork, how generational differences affect us and her advice for new grads entering the world of dentistry. The post FEATURE #76 – Enhancing the Dental Team with Kathy Metaxas appeared first on Dental Head Start.

There's not denying that restorations form the bread and butter of our dental work, but there's a lot of finesse to creating the perfect restoration. In this episode, we're joined by Dr Alice Whang to talk about how to restore a classic 14DO - how to assess it radiographically, rubber dam placement, how to choose the right matrix, assessing your contact and how to wedge. I know often I fall into the trap of just thinking if it fits, it fits, but Dr Alice talks us through the detailed thought process that goes into every step of restoring a tooth to ensure you have predictable and optimal results every single time. The post TIP #106 – Matrix Selection & Placement with Dr Alice Whang appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Moving interstate is always a daunting experience and to do that as a new-grad about to start full time work can be a lot. In this episode, Dr Phillip Nguyen shares his experience moving for uni and then again for work. We talk about how he planned it out and how he balances his hobbies, fitness and social life along with dentistry, and how he's built his support network all up from scratch. As someone who is about to graduate and potentially moving interstate, this is a really reassuring conversation. And I hope for anyone in the same boat, this chat gives you some guidance and motivation as well! The post TIP #105 – Moving Interstate & Balancing Life with Dr Phillip Nguyen appeared first on Dental Head Start.

So we see a child with some missing teeth, some crowding here or there and a bit of a funny bite. Do we intervene now? Or watch and wait, and let them grow into themselves? In this episode, we chat with Dr Derek Mahony about the age-old question of when to start orthodontic treatment. If you haven't already, check out our previous episode (Early Airway Intervention & Orthodontics) where we talk about early airway intervention and how this can simplify and optimise orthodontic treatment later on. Because today, we talk about when exactly we should start assessing children, how to assess peak growth and the ideal age to begin treatment. The post TIP #104 – At What Age Should We Start Ortho? with Dr Derek Mahony appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Dr Soo-Wee Ong - Oral Surgeon by Day, Weightlifter by Night, Founder of DPR and All Round Awesome Guy. In this jam-packed episode, we talk about everything from how weightlifting changed Soo-Wee's life, to his early days as a magician on the side. We discuss the differences between dentistry in Australia and New Zealand, where Oral Surgeons stand in the field and the humble origins of DPR. We discuss Soo-Wee's attitude towards sharing knowledge and why he's so passionate about educating the younger generation. This episode was such a wonderful mix of fun stories and the valuable lessons Soo-Wee has for grads. You don't want to miss it! The post FEATURE #75 – Weightlifting, Oral Surgery & The Origins of DPR with Dr Soo-Wee Ong appeared first on Dental Head Start.

It's easy to see the confidence and competence of senior dentists and to compare ourselves to them, and oftentimes it's easy to forget that they were once students too. In this episode, we are joined by Dr Alice Whang to talk through the ups and downs of Dr Alice's journey from a student to where she is now - a phenomenal clinician and a RIPE Global educator. This was a heartwarming chat where we discuss the trials and tribulations every new grad goes through. If you haven't already, you have to check out Dr Alice's instagram @dralice.dentistry where she is always sharing simple clinical pro tips that can make a huge difference to how we practice. You'll find her page full of tips on better rubber dam, using teflon, matrix selection and taking better intraoral scans. The post TIP #103 – Struggles & Lessons of Your Early Years with Dr Alice Whang appeared first on Dental Head Start.

They say a picture tells a thousand words, and in the world of dentistry, this could not be more powerful. In this episode, we're joined with Dr Paul Jay Hwin to talk about the power of photography and the various ways we can implement it into our appointments to communicate, educate and ultimately, connect better with our patients. It's one thing to look smart with tech, and take Insta-worthy photographs, but it's a whole different ball game to know how and when to present these photos to really hit home. The post TIP #102 – Show & Tell With Photography with Dr Paul Jay Hwin appeared first on Dental Head Start.

It's something you never have enough of and yet it creeps up on you insidiously and slips between your fingers before you can get a hold of it. Ah, time… you sneaky little thing. In today's episode, we are joined by Dr Phillip Nguyen who's a new grad and was in my shoes not too long ago. We talk about his experience in his first year out - the transition from uni clinics into private practice and the little tips he has on how we can be more efficient with our time. Regardless of whether you're a new grad or an experienced dentist, we are always looking for ways to better manage your time, and so I hope you gain a tip or two from this episode! The post TIP #101 – Time Management with Dr Phillip Nguyen appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Dental Head Start was founded in 2018 by Dr David Keir with the hopes of helping students and new graduates transition from textbooks into clinical practice. Since then, we've released 174 episodes, garnered over 230,000 listens, and this episode is our 100th WIWIK! In this episode, we are joined by David, who has taken the year away from dentistry, to hear what life has been like on the road, his discoveries and his vision for the future. The post TIP #100 – A Year Away From Dentistry with Dr David Keir appeared first on Dental Head Start.

For a number of us, the goal is perhaps to one day own our own dental clinic. However, we were only ever taught how to be good clinicians, and practice ownership is a whole different can of worms. In this episode, we are joined with Harry Nicolaidis, one of Australia's leading lawyers in the field of dentistry. We discuss the different ways we can get into practice ownership, what we should look out for and the checklists we should cover before getting our feet wet. This is just a small introduction into the world of practice ownership, but for those who are interested we hope it's a little taster. Let us know if you'd like to hear more! The post TIP #99 – The Legal Side of Practice Ownership with Harry Nicolaidis appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Everyone says we have to be good at communicating, but what are practical actionable steps we can take to actually achieve this? What should you say? What shouldn't you say? In this episode, we cover exactly that. We are joined by Dr Paul Jay Hwin where we discuss the importance of connecting and building value with patients. Paul shares simple tips and a basic framework that we can implement when talking to our patients today. In this episode, we learn how to dive deeper to better understand our patient's story and what's truly important to them so we can provide them with the best possible care. The post TIP #98 – How to Connect with Patients with Dr Paul Jay Hwin appeared first on Dental Head Start.

One of the things we always try to do with the podcast is to bring on dentists from all different walks of life because there are so many facets to dentistry. But, we don't know what we don't know. Most of us go through dental school only ever seeing the clinical side - practicing as a general dentist, specialising, academics & research. But this is really just the tip of the iceberg. In this month's feature we are joined by Dr Kinnar Shah. Dr Kinnar is a Dentapreneur - that is, the intersection between dentistry and entrepreneurialism. He is a business and success coach, where he helps dentists and practice owners realise their full potential or as he might say, “Create their destiny by design, not by default.” In this episode, we talk about what success is and the journey towards it, how books have played a paramount importance in Dr Kinnar's life and different non-clinical skills that are needed to go far in our careers. We talk about Dentapreneurs which is the group Dr Kinnar created to connect like-minded individuals in the industry, what it means, where it's headed and how we can all be involved. The post FEATURE #74 – Books, Success & Entrepreneurialism with Dr Kinnar Shah appeared first on Dental Head Start.

As general dentists, oftentimes we're the first people to be looking into the mouths of young patients. I know for many of us, treating children can be stressful, and we just want them in and out of there ASAP, no dramas caused. But what if we told you that by doing a simple examination and asking a few key questions, we could make the world of difference to their overall development? Dr Derek Mahony has been leading the field of orthodontics and early airway intervention for decades now. In this episode, we discuss the links between teeth, the airways and a child's development. We discuss the importance of a general dentist's role, the questions we should be asking parents, and what to look out for during our examination of the child. The post TIP #97 – Early Airway Intervention & Orthodontics with Dr Derek Mahony appeared first on Dental Head Start.

So you've gotten yourself into a little bit of a sticky situation and received a complaint…now what? Now, fingers crossed this never actually happens to any of us, but it's always better to be safe than sorry, to be informed and to have all our bases covered. Harry Nicolaidis is one of Australia's leading alternative dispute and litigation lawyers, and assists health practitioners and dental practice owners across a wide range of issues. In this episode, we talk about what to do and perhaps more importantly, what not to do when faced with a complaint. We talk about the protocols we should have in place to look after ourselves and our patients, and who our first point of call ought to be. Litigation is a scary part of dentistry, but at the end of the day, there is a wide support network around us that we can tap into. You don't have to face it alone. The post TIP #96 – A Complaint? Now What? with Harry Nicolaidis appeared first on Dental Head Start.

I'm young, fit and healthy…do I really need health insurance? Can't I cheap out and just not buy travel insurance? What exactly is professional indemnity? Just like tax, there's a lot of different types of insurance. And when we haven't directly experienced a sticky situation, it's often hard to see the value of it or understand what they entail. In this episode, Bhupesh Kaphle talks us through the basics of insurance and why it's important. At the end of the day, you'd rather have your back covered, than to have regrets when things don't go to plan. The post TIP #95 – Who Needs Insurance? with Bhupesh Kaphle appeared first on Dental Head Start.

All it takes is one conversation to start a movement or inspire a change. In this episode, we wind down with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen and take a deep dive into aspects of our lives beyond just clinical dentistry. I think Dr Amanda is such a wonderful role model for younger dentists in terms of living to your greatest potential, chasing your passions and not worrying so much about what other people think. We talk about all things from work-life balance (and does that even exist), managing self-doubt and imposter syndrome and standing your ground and knowing when to say no. We also discuss Dr Amanda's role as current President for the Western Australia Women in Dentistry committee, what it means to her and their vision for the future. So grab yourselves a cup of tea and wind down with us for this heart to heart chat. The post TIP #94 – Standing Your Ground with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen appeared first on Dental Head Start.

If there's one thing I took away from this episode with Dr Aovana Timmerman, it is that dentistry is a marathon not a sprint. It takes discipline, persistence and a consistent pace to maintain motivation and prevent burnout. In this episode, we talk to Dr Aovana about what it is that drives her passion for continuous learning and growth in dentistry, and the parallels our profession has with physical activity. We reflect on her journey as a general dentist for 10 years, before undergoing endodontic specialist training, research and why she's now chosen to undertake a PhD. Dr Aovana is a fantastic role model and really instills confidence in young dentists that there is so much potential for us to do great things - we just have to chase it! The post FEATURE #73 – Marathoning Dentistry, Endodontic Training & PhDs with Dr Aovana Timmerman appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Congratulations - you've just landed yourself a job offer! But now, as you sit down to have a look at the contract you've been given, you start to wonder, ‘What did I sign up for?' It's job hunting season, and whether you're new to the game and looking for your first gig or if you already have a job under your belt but have questions about your contract, we've got you covered. Ever wondered what the differences between employee-employer relationships, contractors or service and facilities arrangements (SFAs)? In this episode, we bring it back down to basics to cover all the things we should know when signing a contract. The post TIP #93 – What Did I Sign Up For? with Harry Nicolaidis appeared first on Dental Head Start.

At Dental Head Start, our goal has always been to keep our conversations real and relevant for students and new grads, and so what better way to do that than to hear directly from you guys! In this episode, we are joined by some fellow students from around Australia, who are completing their final year of dental school, to get their perspectives on what it's like for the new generation of dentists. From USYD to UQ to La Trobe, join us to hear about the differences between each university's curriculum and culture, the different committees and extra-curricular activities Richard, Anushka & Joanne are involved with, and the pearls of wisdom they have for younger students. We dive into what the future looks like for everyone and the topics that as future graduates, we'd love to learn more about. And if there's anything you'd like to learn more about, or even if you just want to chat, don't be a stranger! We'd love to hear from you. Find us on Instagram or Facebook! Dental Head Start @dentalheadstart Erica Hwin @ericahwin.dmd Cigdem Kipel @dr.cigdemkipel Graeme Pearson @dr.graemepearson The post FEATURE #72: Perspectives of a Dental Student with Joanne Ling, Richard Zhu & Anushka Fernando appeared first on Dental Head Start.

If you've ever flipped through a product catalog for prosthetic implant components, you'll know that there is a LOT there. Literally hundreds of components, connections, abutments, screws, copings, healing caps, analogs, channels and more. And that's just for one brand. So when we come to restoring implants, what do we ask our lab for? How do we make decisions around implant prosthetics? What are the common mistakes people make here? Rob Dulieu is a master ceramist and lab technician with extensive experience in all types of implant restorations - everything from single implant crowns to complex multi-unit cases. He has guided many young dentists through this steep learning curve and shares with us his top tips for restoring implants and the decision making process around the prosthetic side of implants. The post TIP #92 – Working Out The Prosthetic Side of Implants with Rob Dulieu appeared first on Dental Head Start.

“If you cannot replicate the pain, don't take the tooth out.” The non-tooth-related toothache - the age old conundrum that seems to trouble all dentists. But what is it really in the hands of an oral medicine specialist? In this episode, Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen breaks down orofacial pain - from its presentation and diagnosis to how it might be managed. We talk about what general dentists should expect when these patients present at their door, and how they should liaise with specialists. This is a dense and fascinating discussion about the complexities of orofacial pain. And whilst it may be beyond the scope of general dentists to treat alone, I think it is crucial to appreciate what it is to understand where we stand in the holistic management and treatment of these patients. The post TIP #91 – The Non-Tooth-Related Toothache with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen appeared first on Dental Head Start.

What do lab technicians really wish for from their dentists? I asked Rob Duleiu, dental technician and master ceramist at RWD dental lab, to give it to us straight. And it's about criticizing our preps. In this podcast, Rob and I get into the top do's and don'ts for dentists, but from the point of view of a ceramist or technician. He reveals some eye opening insights around what we can do as dentists to make life easier for our lab technicians, how to help them do better work for us and achieve a better outcome for our patients. If you've ever blamed your lab for something less than ideal, listen to this episode. We talk preps, impressions, scanning, mode of communication, feedback, photography, videography and more. There's so much in our control. The post TIP #90 – What Your Lab Technician is Really Thinking with Rob Dulieu appeared first on Dental Head Start.

We learn a lot of things throughout our extensive education, but the one thing we don't really cover before we graduate is what to do when we suddenly have a taxable income. Thankfully, even though I have no idea, we have people like Bhupesh Kaphle - an accountant and tax & business advisory specialist - where this is his area of expertise. In this episode, we cover all the tax basics from the different types of taxes, your assessable income, allowable deductions, choosing a good accountant and the importance of recording your expenses. For those in a similar boat to me, who also get overwhelmed by this topic, I hope this is a beneficial episode for you to tune into! The post TIP #89 – Tax, What's That? with Bhupesh Kaphle appeared first on Dental Head Start.

How many times have you dreaded going in to work knowing you have a certain procedure in your books, or gone home thinking if what you did was the right thing. No doubt most of us have experienced this and would love to keep these days to a minimum. In this episode, Graeme speaks with James about practising safe and defensive dentistry and what this means in your daily practice. Everyone is happy when you are having fun and doing the dentistry you enjoy doing. Predictability while you're practising reduces your headaches so you can go to work more relaxed and go home without having to worry about the day's work. The post TIP #88 – Practising Safe and Defensive Dentistry with Dr James Tran appeared first on Dental Head Start.

A career in dentistry affords many advantages, including an above-average earning capacity from the outset. Since TIME has the greatest long-term impact on returns on investment, these early few years represent a window that shouldn't be missed if we want to take full advantage of the opportunity to leverage our investments over time. On this podcast featuring Dr Rohan Krishnan, we discuss the smart moves that young dentists can make early in their careers to unlock the lifestyle they aspire to. The post TIP #87 – Investing Early in Your Career with Dr Rohan Krishnan appeared first on Dental Head Start.

How many of us have our patients fill out a medical questionnaire whilst sitting in the waiting room? And is this sufficient enough to gather a full medical history? In this episode, we are joined by Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen, an oral medicine specialist, who breaks down the red flags in medical history for general dentists. We talk about things we might miss out on if we're not being thorough enough and asking our patients specific probing questions. We talk about the significance of certain conditions, medications, supplements and recreational drugs that affect even just day-to-day general dentistry. We discuss why it is crucial, not only for our overall duty of care to the patient, but to also save ourselves from some potential medicolegal issues. This is a jam packed episode full of little pointers that I had no idea about, and so I hope you're all able to walk away with a few additional questions you might ask your patients tomorrow. The post TIP #86 – Red Flags in Medical History with Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen appeared first on Dental Head Start.

The application of lasers in dentistry is so versatile that it can be confusing to get your head around how it works and when to use it. But for those that do, they often remark on how much they love using it in daily practice. In this episode, long-time laser dentist Dr Kurt Dean breaks it down for us. What dental lasers are, what they're used for, the types of lalers on the market and the pro's and cons of the technology. The post TIP #85 – Lasers in Dentistry with Dr Kurt Dean appeared first on Dental Head Start.

When we prep a tooth for a crown, we send a lab script away and magically, we get a new tooth back. This step may be overlooked by many, and it's so important that we meet patients' expectations and obtain the best results for them. This week, Dr James chats with us about how to communicate with the lab and how this fits in with digital scanning and general workflow. Learn what tips and tricks help get the best results and how these useful tips can help you in your daily practice, too. The post TIP #84 – Lab Communication for Optimal Results with Dr James Tran appeared first on Dental Head Start.

As dentists, we are uniquely positioned to assess and diagnose patients with disorders around the airway, sleep and how it relates to orofacial facial pain. The impact of these conditions on a patient's life can be chronic and debilitating (severe fatigue, pain) and can impact their general and mental health in a plethora of ways - mood, reflux, parafunction, concentration, blood pressure etc. Frequently it's the case that the underlying issue for many of these patients - airway and sleep disorders - remain undiagnosed and untreated until it's picked up by a dentist. A thorough dental assessment can reveal signs and symptoms that go on to trigger further investigations or referrals to ultimately uncover what can be a life changing diagnosis for a patient. Dr Rohan Krishnan recently completed his masters in the field Sleep Medicine and Orofacial pain management. He explains the important role dentists play in the initial diagnosis and management of sleep and airway disorders. The post TIP #83 – Dental Sleep Medicine with Dr Rohan Krishnan appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Dentistry is rapidly evolving and there are so many concepts which we just take for granted nowadays. It's hard to imagine a time where composite resin wasn't the normal, digital dentistry didn't exist and social media wasn't as prevalent as it is now.  But Dr Derry Rogers has been able witness all of these changes first hand. Having graduated in 1977 and practiced for over 40 odd years, Dr Rogers was there when the adhesive revolution occurred and was one of the founding fathers that helped bring cosmetic dentistry to Australia. With this wealth of knowledge, Dr Rogers continues to lecture internationally, runs courses through The DR Institute and hosts his own Online Dental Mentoring Podcast In this episode, we dive into how Dr Rogers conducts his new patient consultations and the tips he has for new graduates to become more effective clinicians. We explore the topics of Personality Profiling, Data Collection & Photography, Diagnosis, Treatment Planning & Sequencing.  We've also created a Google Drive with templates and additional notes on all the concepts we discuss in today's episode. Check it out here! ps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qHg8SBHNkW1j5NsMjDeNx3_eDfeDrqo2?usp=sharing The post FEATURE #71 – Mastering Your New Patient Consult with Dr Derry Rogers appeared first on Dental Head Start.

They say the learning never stops, which is where CPD (aka Continued Professional Development) allows us to expand our skillset and learn new perspectives and techniques in treatment. This week I sat down with Dr. James Tran who told me all about his experiences taking CPD, what his experiences have been, and how to go about choosing the right course for yourself. The post TIP #82 – Discovering Your CPD Journey with Dr James Tran appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Being an operative dentist is the obvious career path after dental school, but it's far from being the only option.  In this podcast, Dr Rohan Krishnan explains why dentists are uniquely qualified to work in non-operative roles such as governance, education, non-profit organisations and other professional and regulatory bodies.  He challenges us to explore how we can apply ourselves in an alternative capacity; perhaps as an advisor, board member, educator, committee organiser or executive, to unlock opportunities to do greater good and create true impact beyond our individual patients.  Not only is Dr Krishnan a successful dentist and practice owner, he is the vice president of ADA NSW, Chairman of the “Filling the Gap” organization and a board member of the Australian Dental Council.  Tune in to hear about his journey beyond the drill. The post TIP #81 – Alternate Career Pathways with Dr Rohan Krishnan appeared first on Dental Head Start.

When was the last time you sat back and asked yourself, "What are my dreams, and what kind of person do I want to become? I think as students and new grads, it's so easy to be lost when all our lives, we've always had some sort of curriculum to follow. However, the day we graduate, it's the first time we have to really decide for ourselves what happens next. In this episode, we dive into the importance of dreaming big, how this influences our happiness and career fulfilment, and how to go about finding that spark. The post TIP #80 – Dreaming Big For Life After Graduation with Dr Kaejenn Tchia appeared first on Dental Head Start.

When I see dentists producing amazing work in various specialties, the first thing I want to know is how they were able to build their skills to that point. Knowing the skills Dr. Maria Avis holds, I had the opportunity to unravel her dental journey. In this episode, Maria walks us through her experiences in dental school, and more importantly, how her graduate job positions set her up to become the comprehensive dentist she is now. Maria is a business owner of her private clinic, Akoya Dental, mother of two boys and two dogs. The post FEATURE #70 – Becoming Confident & Competent with Dr Maria Avis appeared first on Dental Head Start.

In an industry where we are almost geared to constantly pursue excellence and success, where we are often isolated in our practice and where the is an expectation to maintain our cool in front of patients, perhaps it's no surprise that it forms the perfect breeding ground for burnout. But what exactly is burnout, and what can we do to prevent it? In this episode, we're joined the Dr Kaejenn Tchia who is The Limitless Dentist. Dr Kaejenn runs his own Facebook and Instagram page where he openly shares his experience with burnout as a recent grad and he uses his platform to regularly share tips on practicing mental well-being. At DHS, we have always been advocates for mental health and we're so glad to be able to dive into it in this episode to break down what burnout is, what causes it and Dr Kaejenn's Top 4 tips on how to avoid it. For an industry that is so tight-knit, I really hope this helps us open up the discussion to talk about our shared experiences on a topic we all inevitably go through. The post TIP #79 – The 4 Crucial Tips to Avoid Burnout with Dr Kaejenn Tchia appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Autograft, allograft, xenograft - it all sounds like a foreign language to me, but to Dr Andrew Cheng, it's pretty much his second language.  In this episode, we wind it all back to basics with a crash course ‘Grafts for Dummies' where we talk what a graft is, the fundamental principles and how Dr Andrew uses hard and soft tissue grafts in his day to day practice. The post TIP #78 – Grafts 101: A Crash Course with Dr Andrew Cheng appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you're missing something and not being able to find it, and in the world of Endodontics, it is no different when it comes to hunting down that elusive missing canal. In this episode, Dr Mehdi Rahimi shares his tips, tricks and tools to locating these canals from rubber dam placement to the specific burs he uses and CBCT assessments. The post TIP #77 – Finding that Missing Canal with Dr Mehdi Rahimi appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Ever heard of verti-preps? There was no mention of it in my dental school. But Dr Bez Shokouhi wishes he'd learned about it earlier in his career because it's a game changer for the way he approaches some heavily damaged teeth. Basically, it's a type of crown preparation that has NO horizontal margin, meaning you can preserve a lot more tooth structure. This is possible thanks to properties of materials like zirconia that can perform well with a knife edge margin. Verti-preps allow for the creation of more subgingival ferrule and salvaging of teeth deemed otherwise unrestorable by traditional restorability standards. The post TIP #76 – Vertical Crown Preparations with Dr Bez Shokouhi appeared first on Dental Head Start.

TIP #74 - Implants: The Common Pitfalls when Getting Started with Dr Andrew Cheng Hosted by Erica Hwin We often get told to not be too hasty when starting up with implants, but what are the common mistakes that new grads encounter, and what should we check off our experience list before getting involved? In this episode, Dr Andrew Cheng reflects on his early experiences and shares his advice for those wanting to get their feet wet. We have a great discussion about the myriad of factors that come into play during case selection and treatment planning, and the importance of patient-centred care. The post TIP #75 – Implants: The Common Pitfalls when Getting Started with Dr Andrew Cheng appeared first on Dental Head Start.