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In this episode, Dr. El Chaar sits down with two standout members of the NYC Dental Smiles team — Dr. Ben Elchami and Dr. Maria Tamay — for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about what drew them to dentistry, the mentors who shaped them, and what it truly means to put patients first.

Together, they explore the evolution of digital dentistry, the generational divide between old-school fundamentals and today's social media-driven learning, and the growing pressures of student debt and corporate dentistry on young practitioners.

At the heart of it all is a shared belief: great dentistry is built on trust, communication, and genuine care.

Topics covered:

• How Dr. Elchami and Dr. Tamay found their way to dentistry
  
  
• The moment it became more than a career
  
  
• Mentorship, fundamentals, and what the new generation may be missing
  
  
• Corporate dentistry — the appeal and the drawbacks
  
  
• Building patient trust through education and transparency
  
  
• Aesthetics, function, and treating patients like family

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In this episode, Dr. Edgard El Chaar sits down with two rising specialists in periodontics, Dr. Cinzia Dinoi and Dr. Anamaria Castillo, to discuss their journeys into dentistry and what inspired them to pursue periodontal surgery.

From international training experiences to mission work that revealed the life-changing impact of dental care, both doctors share the pivotal moments that led them to choose dentistry—and ultimately specialize in periodontics.

The conversation explores:

• Why they chose dentistry instead of traditional medicine

• How personal experiences shaped their career paths

• The unique intersection of medicine, surgery, and dentistry in periodontics

• The importance of mentorship in shaping young clinicians

• What defines the next generation of dental specialists

Dr. Dinoi reflects on her international journey from Canada to Italy and ultimately to the United States, while Dr. Castillo shares how her family background in medicine and mission experiences influenced her path into healthcare.

Together, they offer insight into how the next generation of specialists is redefining patient care, mentorship, and the future of dentistry.

For students, dentists, and anyone interested in the evolving world of dental medicine, this conversation offers a thoughtful look into the values, discipline, and purpose behind modern periodontics.

🎙 Hosted by Dr. Edgard El Chaar

Featuring Dr. Cinzia Dinoi and Dr. Anamaria Castillo

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Dentistry is changing — clinically, culturally, and technologically. In this episode, Dr. Edgard El Chaar sits down with Dr. Sherman Farahani to explore what defines the next generation of modern dentistry.

From multidisciplinary specialty collaboration to advanced digital workflows, they discuss how today’s dentists are redefining excellence beyond social media trends and cosmetic hype.

This conversation covers:

• Why team-based specialty dentistry leads to better long-term outcomes
• The difference between true esthetic mastery and “Instagram dentistry”
• How technology improves precision, predictability, and patient experience
• Mentorship, partnership, and building a culture of excellence
• The challenges young dentists face in today’s rapidly evolving landscape

At NYC Dental Smiles, dentistry is not transactional — it’s relational. Patients enter into a long-term partnership rooted in trust, craftsmanship, and clinical integrity.

Whether you’re a dentist, dental student, or patient curious about where the profession is headed, this episode offers insight into what the future of dentistry truly looks like.

Subscribe for more conversations shaping the future of modern dentistry.

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Dental school teaches you how to graduate. It doesn’t teach you how to build a career.

In this episode, Dr. Edgard El Chaar speaks directly to dental students and early-career dentists about the realities of modern dentistry—what’s missing from formal education, the dangers of shortcuts, and why mastery still matters in an era of speed, scale, and corporate pressure.

This conversation covers:

- What dental school does and does not prepare you for

- The role of mentorship, fundamentals, and lifelong learning

- General practice vs specialization, and the risks of the “super GP” mindset

- Corporate dentistry vs ownership, and how to think long-term

- Why craftsmanship, hospitality, and social awareness still define great dentists

If you’re considering dentistry—or already in it—this episode is about playing the long game and building a career with purpose, skill, and durability.

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Is dental school worth it anymore?

In this episode, Dr. Edgar El Chaar breaks down the real cost of becoming a dentist, financially, professionally, and personally. From six-figure student debt to the rise of AI in healthcare, this is an unfiltered look at what future dentists need to understand before choosing this path.

This conversation is inspired by the advice he gives his own son and the mistakes he has seen too many young dentists make.

If you’re thinking about dentistry, don’t make the decision blind. Watch this.

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Who you see shapes who you become.

Before careers are chosen, before paths are pursued, and before systems ever change, something more fundamental happens first: people decide what feels possible for them.

In this episode of the Dr. El Chaar Podcast, I’m joined by Eli Mack  — a creator, cultural voice, and influencer known for using storytelling, visibility, and authenticity to help young people rethink identity, ambition, and success. Through his platform, Eli has built a following by showing what’s possible when you lead with purpose and stay grounded in who you are.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about identity, influence, culture, and the power of being seen. While dentistry is part of the discussion, the episode is ultimately about much more — how exposure shapes ambition, how confidence grows through representation, and how seeing new examples can expand what people believe is possible for themselves.

We explore influence beyond entertainment, what young people are really looking for when they search for direction, and how confidence is often built simply by seeing someone else go first. Midway through the episode, I reflect on an insight from my book Reclaiming Dentistry and use it as a starting point for a broader conversation about opportunity, mentorship, and visibility across professions.

This episode is for:

- Anyone thinking about what’s possible for their future

- Leaders focused on impact, responsibility, and legacy

- Young people navigating identity, ambition, and purpose

- Professionals who believe careers can be vehicles for leadership and service

Representation isn’t about optics. It’s about possibility.
And possibility starts with seeing yourself in the future.

🎙️ Watch. Listen. Share.

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As 2025 comes to a close, dentistry finds itself at a crossroads.

This year-end recap episode reflects on the defining themes of 2025: artificial intelligence moving from concept to clinical reality, growing corporate influence, evolving leadership models, and a renewed focus on hospitality, culture, and trust in patient care.

Through conversations with clinicians, educators, and innovators, the podcast explored not just where dentistry is headed—but what it risks leaving behind.

This episode is a moment of reflection before the year ahead, grounded in one central question:
 How do we move forward without losing the values that define our profession?

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Dr. El Chaar is joined by Justin Morel, Chief Operating Officer of Toptable Group, the acclaimed hospitality company behind some of Canada’s premier restaurants and two standout New York City destinations, Oceans and Carlotto. Together, they dive into what truly makes an experience magical: empathy, anticipation, leadership, consistency, and creating moments that make people feel seen and cared for.

From the definition of hospitality to lessons from Unreasonable Hospitality, generational shifts in the workforce, AI’s impact on service, and how to inspire the next generation — this conversation bridges two worlds with surprising similarities.

If you’re passionate about patient experience, leadership, or hospitality at its highest level, this episode is for you.

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I’m honored to share the newest episode of The Dr. El Chaar Podcast:
“Restoring Smiles: From Face to Teeth”
featuring Dr. Larry Brecht, Director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics at Lenox Hill Hospital and NYU College of Dentistry.

Our conversation explores the intersection of science, artistry, and compassion in reconstructive dentistry — from immediate jaw reconstruction and facial transplants to esthetic and full-arch rehabilitation.

• Dr. Brecht’s insight into the emotional and ethical dimensions of his work reminds us that dentistry, at its highest level, is about restoring more than structure — it’s about restoring life.

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I’m honored to share the newest episode of The Dr. El Chaar Podcast:
“Restoring Smiles: From Face to Teeth”
featuring Dr. Larry Brecht, Director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics at Lenox Hill Hospital and NYU College of Dentistry.

Our conversation explores the intersection of science, artistry, and compassion in reconstructive dentistry — from immediate jaw reconstruction and facial transplants to esthetic and full-arch rehabilitation.

Dr. Brecht’s insight into the emotional and ethical dimensions of his work reminds us that dentistry, at its highest level, is about restoring more than structure — it’s about restoring life.