Dental Yap

The future of mobile dentistry is being built by two clinicians who refused to wait for permission. Jacquie Biggar, and Shida Taheri unpack how a simple Facebook group grew into a thriving support network with more than 1,000 members, plus the hard-won advice every mobile provider needs before they hit the road. Jacquie and Shida share the real story behind Mobile Dental Providers Australia, from launching businesses during COVID to realising they needed more than hustle - they needed community, clinical governance, and the right referral pathways. If you are a hygienist, oral health therapist, dentist, or practice owner thinking about mobile care, this conversation gives you a practical look at what it really takes to do it well.

You’ll discover:

• Why mobile dentistry starts with your "why" and your target patient group
• How support networks shape safer, smarter practice
• What to know about scope of practice, referral pathways, and collaborative care in aged care
• Why insurance is never one-size-fits-all for mobile providers
• How education and oral health promotion can change outcomes before treatment even begins

Jacquie explains how her path moved from hygiene to oral health therapy, special needs care, a COVID-era mobile business, and now academic work at Sydney University. Shida shares how Dental On Demand grew into a team of eight and why ongoing mentoring is central to keeping clinicians supported in complex settings. They also get real about what matters most in the field: vulnerable patients, hidden pain, family support, and the moments when oral health changes far more than a mouth. From aged care residents who finally smile, eat, and rejoin life, to staff and families who become better advocates, this episode shows why mobile dentistry is about impact, not just convenience.

Essential listening if you care about aged care, special needs, oral health promotion, or building a mobile practice with purpose. MDPA 27 is on the horizon, and after hearing this conversation, you’ll understand why the movement keeps growing.

MDPA Website

The biggest threat to dentistry is not a lack of clinical skill - it's losing people before they ever feel supported. Lyn Carman reveals why the first 12 months can make or break a dental career, and how the right mentoring, communication, and workplace fit can keep talented clinicians from walking away. Lyn is a dental hygienist, practice owner, and the founder of Lync Dental, with 40 years of experience across chairside care, practice ownership, teaching, and rural outreach. In this conversation with Janet Wallace and Lucia Quinn, she shares the hard-earned insight that led her from recruitment into something much bigger: building the human skills that turn graduates into confident, fulfilled professionals.

You’ll discover:

• Why "work-life balance" is really about life balance, and why that distinction matters
• How values-based recruitment uncovers what actually motivates a person
• The questionnaire Lyn uses to identify a candidate’s ideal day, culture fit, and non-negotiables
• Why so many practices accidentally create their culture instead of designing it
• What new graduates are missing when universities focus on clinical competence but not communication, feedback, or emotional resilience
• How rural immersion experiences revealed the power of support, connection, and community beyond clinical training

Janet and Lucia also explore why today’s students are carrying more pressure than ever, from social media and financial stress to packed courses and fewer opportunities for real dialogue. Together, they make the case that if dentistry wants to retain great people, it has to stop treating soft skills as optional. This episode is essential listening for dental students, new grads, practice owners, educators, and anyone who wants to build a healthier, more sustainable future for the profession. If you care about retention, culture, and creating workplaces where people actually want to stay, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.

Building a Thriving Dental Practice with Nikki & Adam Barrett

What does it take to build a successful dental practice, and an even stronger team?

In this episode of Dental Yap, we sit down with husband-and-wife duo Nikki and Adam Barrett, owners of Seascape Dental on the Central Coast of NSW. Together, they've built a thriving practice that's recognised not only for delivering exceptional patient care but also for creating a workplace where people genuinely enjoy coming to work.

We chat about their journey in business, what's new and exciting on the horizon for Seascape Dental, and why investing in people is just as important as investing in technology. Nikki and Adam share their insights into creating a positive workplace culture, supporting professional development, and the invaluable role mentorship plays in helping new graduate dentists and Oral Health Therapists build confidence and succeed in clinical practice.

Whether you're a practice owner, clinician, student, or new graduate, this episode is filled with practical insights, honest reflections, and plenty of inspiration. Nikki and Adam also share their advice on leading a successful team, embracing innovation, and creating an environment where both patients and clinicians can thrive.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The story behind Seascape Dental
• Building and growing a successful dental practice
• Exciting new developments on the horizon
• Why workplace culture matters
• Mentoring and supporting new graduate dentists and Oral Health Therapists
• Leadership, teamwork, and creating opportunities for your team to flourish

Join us for an authentic conversation about business, leadership, mentorship, and what it really takes to build a dental practice that people love to be part of.

https://www.seascapedental.com.au/about-us

What if your oral health and your gut health were more connected than you ever realised? In our debut episode, Lucia and Janet sit down with Dr Angela Genoni, researcher, educator, and founder of Gut Science, to explore the fascinating symbiotic relationship between the oral and gut microbiomes. Dr Genoni shares why she believes education is the most powerful tool we have for shifting how clinicians and patients think about whole-body health, and why understanding this connection matters more than ever.

About our guest, Dr Angela Genoni:

Gut Science was founded and is run by Dr Angela Genoni.

Angela has undergraduate qualifications in nutrition and food science (2005), first class honours in health science (2014) and a PhD in nutrition and the gut microbiome (2018), from Edith Cowan University. Her PhD examined the role of long-term dietary patterns on gut microbiome composition, so she has spent many hours in the lab and talking DNA sequences. 

She has worked across academia, industry and the not-for-profit sector across the food industry, research and education sectors.  

Angela is also a solo parent of three teenage boys and into anything active and outdoors. Because of her own journey of studying with small children and navigating single parenthood with entrepreneurship - she's absolutely passionate about translating the complex science of the microbiome into practical, usable strategies - for both individuals and health professionals.

See the Gut Science Website for information on courses for dental and oral health practitioners:

https://gutscience.au/dental_professionals/