Pearls: Two Generations in Dentistry

Join us as we sit down with Rohit Chandegra, a dedicated OMFS Trainee with a remarkable journey in both Medicine and Dentistry. After graduating from Cardiff University in 2012, Rohit pursued his passion further, earning his medical degree from King’s College London in 2019. Now on the path to becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, he specializes in trauma, facial deformity, and head and neck cancer.

Rohit’s diverse career spans general dentistry, rotations in ENT and orthopaedic surgery, and leadership roles, including managing junior doctors during the COVID-19 crisis at Watford General Hospital. Currently, he’s also a Tier 2 IMOS Oral Surgery Practitioner, tackling complex cases while sharing his expertise as an educator and reviewer for the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

In this episode, we dive into:

Work-life balance: Can you really have it all when aiming for the top?

Financing medical school: Practical tips and hard-won advice.

Restoring function after oral cancer: Why it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of the field.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation packed with insights, challenges, and the passion driving one man’s journey to redefine patient care. Don’t miss it!

Join us as we sit down with the inspiring Dr. Tejal, a dentist with a decade of experience since qualifying from Queen Mary University of London. Currently working as a GDP (at the same practice where her journey as an FD began!), Dr. Tejal has a keen interest in Endodontics. Her career path is as varied as it is inspiring, with time spent in Community Dental Services, as an SHO, and as an Educational Supervisor on the Berkshire scheme—mentoring Foundation Dentists and leading study days for four years.

But Dr. Tejal’s story is much more than her impressive CV. After facing burnout not once but twice, she took a bold step to reclaim her joy and purpose. A three-month sabbatical gave her the space to find clarity, renew her passion for dentistry, and reshape her career. Today, she balances clinical work, hosting her podcast Roots and Resilience, dancing, supporting female dentists, and championing a vegan lifestyle.

In this episode, we explore:

🌱 What it means to be a vegan dentist and how it’s shaped her approach to training and practice.

🧘‍♀️ The critical role of mental health in dentistry and why it’s okay—necessary, even—to pause and reassess your path.

✨ Tips for building a career that aligns with your values while avoiding burnout.

Dr. Tejal’s journey is a testament to the power of prioritizing yourself and finding fulfillment in unexpected ways. Tune in for an honest and uplifting conversation that will leave you feeling inspired to embrace change and resilience in your own life!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roots-and-resilience/id1776485209

filmed at North Cardiff Dental and Implants

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Aston Parmar, a Leeds University graduate and trailblazer in Welsh dentistry. Since 2010, Aston has honed his craft in general practice and now dedicates himself exclusively to private dentistry, allowing him to master restorative and prosthetic excellence.

As the first KOIS-trained dentist in Wales, Aston is revolutionizing patient care, from pioneering sleep apnoea treatments in his upcoming sleep clinic to integrating cutting-edge technology like the Modjaw into his practice. His relentless pursuit of excellence has taken him across the globe, learning from world-renowned experts like Maxim Belograd, Godfrey Cutts, and Michael Myint, and completing elite-level training in implants, endodontics, and dentures.

In this episode, we explore:

✨ Is chasing letters after your name truly worth it?

😴 The future of sleep medicine and its impact on dentistry.

💡 What it takes to reach the pinnacle of clinical practice.

Don't miss this deep dive into Aston's inspiring journey and why we're so fortunate to have him as part of the NCDI team!

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating journey of Dr. Mike Gray, a dentist with a career path as unique as his achievements. Graduating from Bristol Dental School in 2009 with a haul of academic accolades, Mike’s post-grad years weren’t just spent perfecting his clinical craft—he was also tearing down mountain trails as a world-level downhill bike racer. Balancing adrenaline-fueled races with demanding hospital training, he chased his true passion across continents, gaining clinical experience in the U.S. and Canada and earning certification from the Canadian Dental Board.Fast forward to today, and Mike is a powerhouse in cosmetic dentistry, known for delivering everything from seamless composite bonding to transformative full-mouth rehabilitations. His expertise was nationally recognized when he clinched the prestigious Restorative Award at the 2022 Dentistry Clinical Case Awards for an exceptional full-mouth rehab case.But dentistry isn’t his only claim to fame. Mike’s Instagram account is a hit, where he shares not only stunning smiles but glimpses of his life on the bike trails—and with his enviable hair, he’s even been tipped as a potential hair model. Add a well-regarded music career into the mix and his role as the creator of the sought-after ceramic course POISE, and you’ve got a guest with endless stories to tell. Join us as we chat with Mike about his downhill racing days, his philosophy behind becoming a supreme clinician, and how his passions off the dental chair have shaped his journey. It’s an episode packed with inspiration, grit, and a whole lot of talent. Don’t miss it!

This week we are joined by Dr Adam Govani, who comes from a family deeply rooted in dentistry, with his father, Amin Govani, owning Manor Dental Centre in Leicester. Adam’s journey, however, took him to Madrid, where he studied dentistry before returning to the UK in 2019 to practice alongside his father—a journey we explore in the episode. Studying in Madrid gave Adam a much greater understanding of pushing boundaries in Dentistry and how to think innovatively while also remaining safe. His studying abroad has given him unique insights to bring back to the UK and has led to him experiencing great results with periimplantitis patients. His professional interests include orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and implants. Like Dr. Aly, he was a finalist for Young Dentist at the Private Dentistry Awards.

Beyond dentistry, Adam is also working toward his private pilot license, and you can follow his journey on Instagram at @flyingdentistuk!

Filmed at North Cardiff Dental and Implants

What is Social Media's role in dentistry today? Do dentists need an Instagram following to be successful? Is it essential for a practices brand? How do you grow a following?

Join us this week as Dr. Aly and Dr. Flo dive into the world of social media! Discover how Dr. Aly has turned his passion for video creation into a powerful tool for growing his practice and building connections with leading dental companies. Social media is everywhere—even the GDC has set guidelines to ensure dental teams use it responsibly. But how can we leverage it to showcase our work, connect with peers, and attract patients? And how do we avoid falling into the trap of constant comparison with other dentists? Don't miss this insightful conversation!

This week we are joined by Dr Daisy Evans. Daisy grew up near Oxford and moved to Cardiff in 2013 to study dentistry. She graduated with honours in 2018 and began working in mixed practice. During the pandemic she and her husband (also a dentist) began applying to work in New Zealand and were able to spend two years working and travelling there before returning to Wales last year. We delve into the whole application process, the pros and cons of using agencies and how to secure the best visas. As well as reflecting on New Zealand's insurance systems and their way of life.

Chris is from Barry, South Wales. He graduated from Liverpool Dental School in 2012 and has since worked in a variety of fields including General Practice, Emergency Dental Services, University Dental Hospital, as well as Sedation and Oral Surgery referral practices. Chris has been involved in sedation services since 2018. He not only provides sedation for his own patients but also offers roving sedation services and mentorship.

He also loves all things sport and outdoors- particularly water sports, including surfing and kitesurfing. After graduation he decided to merge his passions and undertook a masters in sports science which has since led him back into medical school to train to be a doctor.

In this chat we dive into finding your identity. Working to live vs living to work and how to chase your passions even when it feels very daunting.

This week we have a special season finale episode to round up all the guests and to consolidate all that we have learnt from this incredible season. Over the last few months we have had the honour of being able to interview some incredible people working in the dental sphere. We are going to try and break down some of the insights and changes we have made since interviewing each guest. A big thank you, to everyone that has joined us on the podcast and a particular thank you to all the incredible women in dentistry that have been the highlight of the season.

For both Dr Flo and Dr Aly this season has been transformative to their clinical and personal lives. Flo has taken a much more jump now, think later approach and has since signed up to an implant and a sedation course. Dr Aly has reflected on the importance of marking 1 week a month of time out from practice so that he can invest more time into his family. He also discusses how special the team he has built around him is and how there are no overnight successes.

Filmed at North Cardiff Dental & Implants

Mike Hesketh graduated from Leeds Dental school in 2004 and embarked on an adventurous journey by joining the Armed Forces. As a Royal Marine, he served in Afghanistan. After leaving the Marines, Mike seamlessly transitioned his skills into the business world.

Together with his wife Lara, Mike took over Exeter Dental Centre, a modest private practice. In just three years, they transformed it into a thriving business generating over £3 million annually. After their success, they sold the practice to travel with their children.

Now, Mike and Lara are pouring their energy into a new venture, Dartmoor Dental. Mike runs Hesketh Healthcare, a consultancy dedicated to helping others build their dream businesses, as well as a dental accountancy firm. We were fortunate enough to meet Mike when he presented at our IDAW conference.

Mike explains how developing leadership skills, branding, improving infrastructure and creating financial control, will allow you the practice owner to grow wealth.