Brace Yourself

What is it actually like to graduate from dental school and start practising independently?

Tune in as Emma and Ana chat with Dr Andrea Karumathy, a 2025 Griffith University graduate and new-grad dentist, about the realities of making the jump from student to clinician.

Tune in to find out more about:

• What the first few months of being a new grad are really like
• How to build confidence and stop stressing about “what’s next”
• Communication tips that can transform your patient experience
• How to find and choose your first dental job
• Why shadowing could be your best job-hunting strategy
• What to look for (and ask) in a potential workplace
• Managing decision fatigue, burnout and your social battery
• How to make the most of dental school, networking and student opportunities

Whether you're a few years away from graduating or about to enter the workforce, this episode is packed with honest advice, practical tips and reassurance for the next generation of dentists.

Socials: @andreakarumathy & @akdentistry_

In this first episode of Brace Yourself's Student Lead Series for 2026, hosts Emma and Ana sit down with Aaron, a dental student at the University of Melbourne and founder of AGYP Studios, a video marketing agency for dental clinics.
Aaron shares how he built his agency from the ground up and how that grew into working with some of the top clinicians in the industry.
In this episode, we cover the highs and lows of building something on the side of a full time degree, the mindset shifts that came from watching top dentists work up close, what social media followers and views actually mean (and don't), and the philosophy that's guided him through it all, starting before you feel ready.
Find out more about aaron and his work at @theaaronram & @aarongrowsyourpresence 

What happens when a file fractures, a root breaks, or a patient walks back in two years later saying "I don't remember that conversation"? In this episode, Emma sits down with Dr Colm Harney, a general dentist and dentolegal consultant at Dental Protection (DPL) to unpack the professional and legal side of dentistry that dental school rarely covers.Colm shares practical frameworks students can start using in clinic today, including the BRAN-C mnemonic for consent, the golden rule of record keeping, how to genuinely check patient understanding, and the AA-SSS approach to handling complaints, plus what DPL actually offers students and new grads, from free CPD to overseas placement cover.Find out more about DPL here: https://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/hub/students

Digital workflows have transformed implant dentistry, promising greater precision, efficiency, and patient comfort. But are they truly improving care... or creating a growing divide between those who can access cutting-edge technology and those who cannot?In this episode of Brace Yourself, Griffith University 3rd Year dental student Dania Jaber explores the evidence behind end-to-end digital workflows in implant-supported fixed prosthodontics. Drawing on current research, she examines whether digital techniques improve clinical outcomes, where conventional workflows still excel, and why the greatest benefits may lie in patient experience rather than prosthetic accuracy.The discussion then shifts beyond the clinic to explore equity, accessibility, and public health policy. From the cost of digital infrastructure to disparities between metropolitan and rural services, this episode asks whether digital dentistry is narrowing the gap between ideal and accessible care, or quietly widening it.

In the very first episode of Cases in Common, Seshani and Gitaanjali from AMSA join Ana and Emma from ADSA to explore a condition encountered daily across both medicine and dentistry: Diabetes mellitus.What does gum disease have to do with blood sugar control? More than most clinicians realise.Following the journey of a patient with poorly controlled Type 2 Diabetes, we examine how chronic inflammation in the gums can influence blood glucose control, kidney disease, cardiovascular outcomes, and overall health.Join us as we unpack the science behind this bidirectional relationship, discuss the latest evidence, and explore what happens when medicine and dentistry stop working in silos.Whether you're a medical student, dental student, or healthcare professional, this episode highlights an often-overlooked connection that could change how you approach patient care.Because sometimes the missing piece of a patient's diabetes management isn't another medication, it's their mouth.

What does the path from dental student to specialist orthodontist to practice founder actually look like? In this episode of Brace Yourself, Emma sits down with Dr. Jessica Yeo, specialist orthodontist and founder of Glow Orthodontics in Sydney. Dr. Yeo shares the deeply personal experiences that shaped her career, the practical steps she took to get into a specialty program, and what nobody tells you about starting your own clinic. She also touches on content creation, combating misinformation in dentistry online, and why she is on a mission to make the specialty pathway more transparent and accessible for students everywhere. Honest, inspiring, and full of advice you can actually use.Keep up to date with Dr Jessica on socials at: @drjessyeo.ortho

A five-minute exam can save a life.

In this episode, Julia Flor explores why early detection of oral cancer makes such a dramatic difference in survival. We cover the key clinical red flags — from non-healing ulcers and red/white patches to suspicious lumps, numbness, and high-risk oral sites.

You’ll learn how to apply the two-week rule, assess malignant vs benign features, and recognise oral potentially malignant disorders like leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus, submucous fibrosis, and actinic cheilitis. We also discuss the role of field cancerisation, major risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, HPV, areca nut), and disparities in outcomes for rural and Indigenous patients.

From biopsy principles and surgical margins to new tools like autofluorescence, narrow-band imaging, and saliva diagnostics, this episode gives you the knowledge to screen systematically, document effectively, and make timely referrals.

Whether you’re on your first clinic rotation or preparing for practice, this episode will help you approach oral cancer detection with vigilance and confidence.

*Some topics in this episode — like OPMDs, screening tools, biopsy guidelines, and lesion descriptors — are touched on briefly, but they’re expanded in greater detail in the accompanying Podcast Digest. We recommend downloading the digest and keeping it handy as a quick-reference guide for study and in clinic - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nzEfcHNjG6cq-sJexGdhSa64GITlKWXY?usp=sharing

Adhesive dentistry is the foundation of almost everything we do — but how much do you really understand about etching and bonding? In this episode, we break down the science and the steps so you can approach every restoration with confidence.

Ana and Demi walk through the purpose of etching, the differences between enamel and dentine bonding, and the systems you’ll come across in clinic. We also cover the common pitfalls that trip students up — and how to avoid them.

Whether you’re doing your first composite restoration or refining your adhesive technique, this episode will give you the clarity you need to get it right.

00:00 - Introduction

• 00:30 – Quick Substrate Refresher: Enamel vs. Dentine

• 01:56 – Etching: Purpose, Materials, Techniques

• 09:10 – Bonding Systems: Generations

• 11:55 – Bonding to Enamel vs. Bonding to Dentine

• 14:28 – What Affects Resin–Dentine Bonds

• 17:16 – Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  18:49 – Conclusion

Patients ask about it all the time — but it’s not something we get much hands-on experience with at dental school. In this episode, we demystify tooth whitening from both vital and non-vital angles.

Carol Lam and Demi-Lee Muir break down the science, techniques, materials, risks, and real-world advice on how to manage patient expectations and treatment planning.

Whether you’re whitening natural teeth or tackling post-endo discolouration, we’ve got the key takeaways to help you feel confident in clinic.

🦷 00:00 – Intro

📚 01:10 – The Basics

✨ 05:45 – Vital Tooth Whitening

💀 10:27 – Non-Vital Tooth Whitening

🎯 18:07 – Conclusion

Plus, check out the free companion newsletter packed with figures, protocols, and clinical tips to review what you’ve learned - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nzEfcHNjG6cq-sJexGdhSa64GITlKWXY

In this episode of the Brace Yourself podcast, we’re teaming up with the ADSA Education Series hosted by Demi-Lee Muir to bring you an honest and insightful discussion on rural dental placements.

Our guest, Reynard Conradie — a fifth-year dental student from the University of Queensland — shares his real-world experience navigating regional clinics, building confidence in patient care, and handling unexpected challenges.

Whether you’re heading into your first rural block or just want to hear what it’s like outside the city, this episode is full of practical advice, memorable cases, and reflections on how rural placements shape us into better clinicians.

(00:00) Introducing our speakers  

(05:25) What to expect and unique elements of rural placements  

(12:30) What your first day might look like  

(19:40) What we wish we knew before we started rural placement  

(22:00) Some of our most interesting patient cases  

(33:40) Key takeaways and parting advice  

Check out the recording on ADSA’s official YouTube channel:

👉 ⁠www.youtube.com/@ausdsaOfficial⁠