Smile Science with Ruchi

Part 1: career, scope and clinical care
Curiosity Is My Compass: Career, Scope & TMD with Sarah Beach (Part 1)

• Sarah's career story and "curiosity is my compass"
• Finding a niche when you feel stuck
• Choosing CPD that's worth it
• Being genuinely competent before adding new skills
• Underutilised OHTs
• What new grads should focus on in their first 5 years
• TMD, airway and the chairside signs to look for
• Becoming the project manager in multidisciplinary care

Antibiotics, Allergies & the New Dental Therapeutic Guidelines — with Dr Geraldine Moses

In this episode of Smile Science with Ruchi, I sit down with Dr Geraldine Moses — clinical pharmacist and co-author of The Handbook of Dental Therapeutics — to unpack what's actually changed in the Oral and Dental Therapeutic Guidelines, and what it means for your everyday clinical decisions.

We cover the prescribing habits worth rethinking, the allergy documentation most of us are still getting wrong, and the "natural" supplements that carry more bleeding risk than patients (and clinicians) realise.

What we cover:

• Why clindamycin is out for infective endocarditis prophylaxis, and what's first-line now
• How to properly document a penicillin allergy — and why most reported reactions aren't what they seem
• Who actually needs antibiotic prophylaxis (hint: it's not about rheumatic fever)
• The new thinking on odontogenic infections and antibiotic timing
• Why turmeric, fish oil and other "natural" supplements are a real bleeding risk
• Managing extractions for patients on denosumab (Prolia) and MRONJ risk
• What changed with articaine restrictions
• Why paracetamol + ibuprofen beats opioids for dental pain

Whether you're an OHT, hygienist, dentist or dental student, this conversation is packed with practical, evidence-based takeaways you can apply in the chair this week.

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This content is for professional education purposes and isn't a substitute for the full guidelines or individual clinical judgement.

When Should You Refer a Child to an Orthodontist? | Dr Kate Barker

When should we refer a child for an orthodontic assessment — and when is it appropriate to monitor and wait?

In this conversation, I’m joined by Orthodontist Dr Kate Barker to talk through some of the orthodontic questions we commonly face in everyday clinical practice.

We discuss early signs to look out for, timing of referrals, early intervention, growth and development, and the role dental professionals can play in identifying orthodontic concerns early.

I’ve also included some clinical scenarios and asked Dr Kate how she would approach them — including those cases where you find yourself wondering, “Should I refer this now, or keep monitoring?”

This conversation is aimed particularly at oral health therapists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and dentists who regularly see children and want to feel more confident with orthodontic referral decisions.

🎧 I hope you find it useful and can take something practical back into your next clinical day.

Follow Smile Science with Ruchi on Instagram @smilesciencewithruchi for upcoming speakers, short clinical clips and more conversations with clinicians from across dentistry.

This conversation is for educational purposes and does not replace individual clinical judgement, assessment or professional guidelines.

In this episode of Smile Science with Ruchi, I sit down with Anikó Ball to talk about something that affects so many of us in dentistry — ergonomics, posture and work-related pain.

As dental professionals, we spend hours in demanding positions, often focusing so much on our patients that we forget about our own bodies.

Aniko shares practical insights into optimal dental posture, common ergonomic habits that may contribute to neck, shoulder and back pain, and small changes we can make in everyday clinical practice to better protect ourselves.

We discuss:

• Why musculoskeletal pain is so common in dentistry

• Common posture and positioning mistakes

• Principles of optimal dental posture

• Body awareness and movement

• Practical ergonomic changes in the clinic

• Protecting your body for career longevity

Whether you’re an oral health therapist, hygienist, dental therapist, dentist or dental student, I hope this conversation encourages you to think about how you’re looking after your own body while looking after your patients.

🎙️ Smile Science with Ruchi

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If you are a speaker and you have something to share with the dental community please connect with me on the above platforms.

This podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individual healthcare or ergonomic advice.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Sahil Soni for a practical discussion on Class II composite restorations.

We cover matrix selection, proximal contacts, deep boxes, isolation, tricky access, finishing, overhangs and common clinical challenges — with plenty of practical tips you can apply in everyday practice.

A useful listen for dentists, OHTs, hygienists and therapists interested in restorative dentistry.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and professional development purposes only and does not replace individual clinical judgement, formal training or relevant professional guidelines.

What can the oral microbiome tell us about disease, prevention and everyday clinical care?

In this episode, I speak with Sue Rusalen about the oral microbiome, oral microscopy and how these concepts can be applied in dentistry. We explore microbial balance, patient education, prevention and the wider oral-systemic connection.

A practical conversation for OHTs, hygienists, dental therapists, dentists and other oral health professionals interested in looking beyond teeth and gums.

🔬 Learn more about Sue’s work through Microscope First Dentistry:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1NNyRX5Lk1/

What does snoring, mouth breathing or restless sleep in a child actually tell us?

In this episode of Smile Science with Ruchi, ENT specialist Dr David McIntosh discusses sleep-disordered breathing in children, the red flags clinicians and parents should recognise, and when further assessment may be needed.

We cover mouth breathing, snoring, nasal obstruction, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, sleep quality, behaviour and the important role dental professionals can play in early identification and referral.

A practical conversation about recognising the signs early and helping children breathe and sleep better.

In this episode, I speak with Darron Goralsky from the Melbourne TMJ & Facial Pain Centre about the important role of dental and physiotherapy collaboration in recognising and managing temporomandibular disorders.

We discuss the musculoskeletal contribution to TMJ pain, including neck involvement, clinical red flags, progressive loss of mouth opening following dental injections, splint selection, airway considerations and when referral to a TMJ physiotherapist may be appropriate.

Darron also explains why TMD-specific physiotherapy training is important and shares information about the Melbourne TMJ & Facial Pain Centre’s two-day, five-step TMD protocol course.

A practical discussion for oral health therapists, hygienists, dentists, physiotherapists and other clinicians interested in improving assessment, referral and multidisciplinary patient care.

Course information: melbournetmjcentre.com.au

This episode is intended for general professional education and does not replace individual clinical assessment, diagnosis or treatment planning.