Hosted by Dr Haydyn Bathurst

Hello Dental Head Start listeners, welcome back to our feature series! Today’s guest is Dr Arosha Weerakoon. Dr Arosha wears many hats in the dental industry, a practice owner of Tewantin family dental, a lecturer at the University of Queensland where she also obtained her pHD in Dentine, Adhesive Interfaces & Physiological Ageing. This is only just scratching the surface and how I met Arosha was that as some listeners may know she is a fellow Colgate Advocate for Oral Health.

In this episode we follow Arosha’s journey of being a dentist and how she evolved from one role to the next. If you identify with wanting to be a practice owner, researcher, or lecturer, this episode is for you!

Dr Arosha Weerakoon is the owner of Tewantin Family Dental. She is also a lecturer (hon) with a Master’s in Public Health and a PhD from the School of Dentistry, University of Queensland.  Arosha’s PhD thesis is titled, ‘Dentine, Adhesive Interfaces & Physiological Ageing’. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fouchard Academy. Arosha is the Assistant Secretary for the International Dental Ethics and Law Society and a member of the Clinical Council for Country to Coast, Queensland. In recognition of her commitment to professional learning and development, Arosha was awarded the 2022 BOQ Specialist Practice Bursary for Dental Excellence from the Australian Dental Association (QLD). In 2019, Arosha was awarded the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Convention Trailblazer Grant. In the same year, Arosha won the top prize, The Vice Chancellor’s Award, for her research pitch titled, ‘It’s about bonding with fillings’ hosted by Universities Australia. As part of her prize, Arosha completed an internship at The Conversation Media Group Headquarters in Melbourne. To date, she has published eight articles promoting oral health with The Conversation Media Group. Arosha believes that community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration and patient empowerment is the key to improving oral and general health for all.

The post Feature #96 – Embracing Lifelong Learning: An Interview with Dentist, Researcher, and Educator – Dr. Arosha Weekaroon appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Hieu Dong

All throughout dental school, my friends and I have always dreamed about where we’d be in 5, 10, 20 years time. Who will be a specialist, a practice owner or not even a dentist anymore! Now that my time at dental school is coming to an end, I’ve been reflecting a lot about where we will all be ending up, a time to finally step into the real world and make the decisions for what we want in our lives. In this episode, I’ve brought on Dr Caroline Nguyen, a practice owner and mum and she shares with me all her stories from leaving dental school to opening up her practice, making decision to have kids and everything in between. I know a lot of my friends are thinking about getting married, starting a family and how to balance their career with it all. Today’s chat w Dr Caroline gave me so hope and excitement about all that is to lie ahead and how we can plan our timelines into the future.

Dr. Caroline Nguyen is a highly accomplished dentist and the proud owner of Vivid Dental in Five Dock, where she has been practicing full-time since 2011. What sets Dr. Nguyen apart is her remarkable career consistency; she worked at Top Gum Dental Surgeons for seven years before launching her own practice—an impressive tenure that’s rare in dentistry. She graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Sydney. Her passion for education also led her to become a clinical educator at the University of Sydney’s Dental Hospital, tutoring students in tooth conservation and endodontics.

Beyond her practice, Dr. Nguyen has made significant contributions to the dental community. She has served on the executive council of the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch) and held leadership roles in the Australian Asian Association of Dentists. Her expertise spans across both clinical practice and leadership.

The post FEATURE #95 – Planning Your Timeline: Career, Kids, Practice Ownership appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to the Discoveries in Dental focus series. This series highlights recent dental discoveries and saves you time having to read through numerous journal articles.

Hosted by @dr.haydynbathurst

In this episode, Dr Haydyn talks about the recent development of the first fully robotic dental crown preparation procedure on a live patient. He provides a balanced overview of the emerging robotic dental technology, its potential implications, and the need to carefully consider the benefits and risks as the technology continues to evolve.

https://www.perceptive.io/#imaging
https://www.newsweek.com/ai-robot-dentist-performs-human-dental-crown-minutes-1932997

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/robot-dental-surgery-ai-perceptive-b2591701.html

https://instituteofdigitaldentistry.com/ai/the-future-of-digital-dentistry-ai-robot-successfully-places-dental-crowns

0:00:11 Introduction to the podcast series “Discoveries in Dental” and the news about the first fully robotic dental crown preparation.

0:01:00 Overview of the robotic technology developed by the startup Perceptive, including the funding and involvement of dentist Ed Zuckerberg.

0:02:30 Discussion of the potential benefits of the robotic technology, such as improved efficiency and precision, as well as the exaggeration in the news article about the time it takes for a dentist to perform a crown preparation.

0:04:00 Concerns about the patient experience and the impact on the dentist-patient relationship, including the potential for patient anxiety and the importance of trust and rapport.

0:05:00 Comparison to the use of robotic assistance in other medical procedures, and the differences in dentistry due to the use of local anesthesia.

0:06:00 Potential impact on patient-centered care and disease prevention, as well as the potential benefits of increased access to dental care in underserved areas.

0:07:00 Discussion of potential risks and failure modes of the robotic technology, drawing comparisons to the challenges faced by self-driving cars.

0:07:40 Conclusion and call for listeners to stay informed on the developments in robotic dentistry and provide feedback.

The post Discoveries in Dental Focus #4 – Robot dentists are here! appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to the OHT pathways focus series by Dental Head Start. Listen to a limited series of interviews with OHTs that have taken the less traditional general practice pathway and used their scope to endeavour into a unique, different and fulfilling career. 

Hosted by Christina Potestas 

In this episode, I chat with dental hygienist Salik Faniad @sydneyhygienist who returns to the podcast with some pretty big changes in his career. Salik shares how his experiences and lessons learnt so far has helped him on his pathway of business ownership. We talk about how his business operates and the joys and challenges of running his very own dental practice as a hygienist, with nothing in his way to slow him down. 

NOTE: The discussions had in these series of interviews is only general advice and should not be considered an official outline of your scope upon graduating your Oral Health Therapy degree. Your university defines your scope of practice and should be your ultimate point of reference should you be unsure of what dentistry you are allowed to perform post graduation. 

Salik H. Faniad is an entrepreneurial force in the dental industry, co-founding Hills Dental Boutique and becoming widely known as “Sydney’s Hygienist” on social media. With over 13 years of experience, Salik has mastered the art of connecting oral health with overall wellness, specializing in periodontal therapy and preventative care.

Beyond his clinical expertise, Salik’s business acumen has made him a successful practice owner and leader. His passion for patient care extends to building a dental practice that values integrity, innovation, and patient-centered service. Through his journey from clinician to entrepreneur, Salik has gained deep insights into what it takes to manage and grow a thriving dental business, while always keeping the patient’s well-being at the forefront.

Salik is an advocate for evidence-based practice, continuous learning, and personalized care. Outside of dentistry, he enjoys playing soccer, watching Manchester City, traveling, and spending quality time with his family.

Listen to Salik’s first Dental Head Start episode here

In Australia, the Queensland Health publicly released adult waiting lists are approximately 150,000 people long and have an up to a 24-month wait for the initial appointment for comprehensive treatment. There is an identified need for emergency and comprehensive dental services that unable to be accessed by vulnerable groups of people within South East Queensland. These vulnerable groups include children, Refugee and Asylum Seekers, Children in Care and others from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and individuals or families who have been impacted by domestic & family violence.

Tickets include:

– Three-course dinner

– 4-hour drink package

– Music, performances, and entertainment

– Silent and live auctions

The Esesson Foundation will host its Annual Gala Ball on Saturday, 28th of September 2024. The charity event will raise essential funds for administering basic healthcare for children of vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds.

Purchase tickets here

https://events.humanitix.com/esesson-foundat

The post OHT Pathways Focus #3 – Business ownership with Salik Faniad appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to the Discoveries in Dental focus series. This series highlights recent dental discoveries and saves you time having to read through numerous journal articles.

Hosted by @dr.haydynbathurst

This episode is an overview of silver fluoride in dentistry. It covers the differences between silver diamine fluoride and silver fluoride, the history of silver compounds, benefits like antibacterial properties and caries arrest, as well as drawbacks such as tooth staining and contraindications. Dr Haydyn shares his perspectives on when silver fluoride can be useful and when it should be avoided in practice.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-020-1942-7

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6500430

https://portal.ada.org.au/watch?videoId=895

In Australia, the Queensland Health publicly released adult waiting lists are approximately 150,000 people long and have an up to a 24-month wait for the initial appointment for comprehensive treatment. There is an identified need for emergency and comprehensive dental services that unable to be accessed by vulnerable groups of people within South East Queensland. These vulnerable groups include children, Refugee and Asylum Seekers, Children in Care and others from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and individuals or families who have been impacted by domestic & family violence.

Tickets include:

– Three-course dinner

– 4-hour drink package

– Music, performances, and entertainment

– Silent and live auctions

The Esesson Foundation will host its Annual Gala Ball on Saturday, 28th of September 2024. The charity event will raise essential funds for administering basic healthcare for children of vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds.

Purchase tickets here

https://events.humanitix.com/esesson-foundation-annual-gala

The post Discoveries in Dental Focus #3 – The Pros and Cons of Using Silver Fluoride in Dentistry appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Re-run series: Finding your support network on Social Media

Picked by @christina_oralhealth

This series of re-run episodes is a curated selection of interviews to help listeners cut through the noise of social media and start finding their support network of dentists who are actively sharing their expertise and life online. These interviews reveal more about the real person behind the Instagram profile – I hope that it opens doors to a network of potential mentors and starts what may be a guiding and inspiring relationship beyond graduation.

In this episode, I am throwing back to a great interview with Dr Shereen Lim @dr.shereenlim . She was one of the first dentists to specialise in dental sleep medicine in Australia and has written a book called Breathe Sleep Thrive. Her mission is to highlight root causes of obstructive sleep apnoea and promote airway health in patients of all ages, in fact this is a topic that has attracted a lot of interest amongst Oral Health Therapists and dentists lately. Online she has over 4000 instagram followers and no surprise considering she creatively shares her expertise in the area of airway development. Continue listening to this episode to hear Dr Lim’s approach to educating and empowering parents on breathing and growth.

0:00:00 – Dr. Shereen Lim got interested in dental sleep medicine due to her husband’s snoring. She enrolled in a graduate diploma to learn more about the consequences of poor breathing during sleep and the potential for early intervention through palatal expansion.

0:05:00 – Dr. Lim used her own children as examples to understand the importance of optimizing breastfeeding and nasal breathing in the earliest years of life for proper jaw and airway development.

0:09:15 – Dr. Lim discusses the importance of educating parents about issues like tongue ties, reflux, and the impacts of dummy/pacifier use on proper oral development and function.

0:15:00 – Dr. Lim suggests tools and exercises like the Mayo Munchie and myofunctional therapy to help train proper tongue and lip posture in young children. She also recommends referring to speech/feeding therapists or dental therapists trained in myofunctional therapy.

Shereen Lim is an Australia-based dentist with a post graduate diploma in dental sleep medicine from the University of Western Australia. She was one of Australia’s first handful of dentists to obtain a qualification in dental sleep medicine. She has been involved in managing snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea for over a decade and has seen the physical, developmental, mental, and emotional problems that are often associated with these breathing disturbances throughout the lifespan. Her mission is to highlight root causes and promote airway health, or a shift from managing disease and symptoms towards ensuring healthy nasal breathing and good airway development from infancy. She works in private practice and has a special focus on unlocking greater health and wellness through addressing tongue ties, oral dysfunction (during infant feeding, swallowing, breathing, chewing, and speech), and guiding good jaw development during childhood.

Instagram: dr.shereenlim

Find Dr Shereen Lim’s book Breathe, Sleep Thrive here

In Australia, the Queensland Health publicly released adult waiting lists are approximately 150,000 people long and have an up to a 24-month wait for the initial appointment for comprehensive treatment. There is an identified need for emergency and comprehensive dental services that unable to be accessed by vulnerable groups of people within South East Queensland. These vulnerable groups include children, Refugee and Asylum Seekers, Children in Care and others from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and individuals or families who have been impacted by domestic & family violence.

Tickets include:

– Three-course dinner

– 4-hour drink package

– Music, performances, and entertainment

– Silent and live auctions

The Esesson Foundation will host its Annual Gala Ball on Saturday, 28th of September 2024. The charity event will raise essential funds for administering basic healthcare for children of vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds.

Purchase tickets here

https://events.humanitix.com/esesson-foundation-annual-gala

The post Tip #145 [RE-RUN] – Empowering and educating parents on breathing and growth with Dr Shereen Lim appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Dr David Keir

Join us on the Dental Head Start podcast as we dive into our first episode of our four-part series, “5 Things I Wish I Knew.” This episode is crafted specifically for new graduates stepping into the world of dentistry. Despite the excitement, the transition from student to practitioner brings its own set of challenges. We discuss the reality of day-to-day dentistry where the need for work-life balance and a supportive work environment becomes crucial. Hear about the common pre-work anxieties that many face and the gradual journey toward overcoming them. We also talk about the loss of structure after university and the importance of taking proactive steps to grow your confidence and scope. Lastly, we delve into effective patient communication strategies—learning to listen rather than fill the silence. Whether you’re a new graduate or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate your dental career with confidence and support.

0:01:24 – The reality of day-to-day dentistry as a new graduate and the normal ups and downs

0:03:21 – Expecting and normalizing anxiety as a new graduate

0:07:19 – Backing yourself, expanding your scope, and choosing the right cases as a new graduate

0:12:19 – The importance of patient communication as a priority for new graduates

In Australia, the Queensland Health publicly released adult waiting lists are approximately 150,000 people long and have an up to a 24-month wait for the initial appointment for comprehensive treatment. There is an identified need for emergency and comprehensive dental services that unable to be accessed by vulnerable groups of people within South East Queensland. These vulnerable groups include children, Refugee and Asylum Seekers, Children in Care and others from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and individuals or families who have been impacted by domestic & family violence.

Tickets include:

– Three-course dinner

– 4-hour drink package

– Music, performances, and entertainment

– Silent and live auctions

The Esesson Foundation will host its Annual Gala Ball on Saturday, 28th of September 2024. The charity event will raise essential funds for administering basic healthcare for children of vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds.

Purchase tickets here

https://events.humanitix.com/esesson-foundation-annual-gala

The post Things I wish I knew focus series #1 – As a new graduate with Dr David Keir appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to the Discoveries in Dental focus series. This series highlights recent dental discoveries and saves you time having to read through numerous journal articles.

Hosted by @dr.haydynbathurst

In this episode I discuss the use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), a calcium silicate-based cement used in endodontic procedures such as pulp capping and preventing pulpal exposure, even in cases of irreversible pulpitis. However, there are potential contradictions in using MTA, such as the need for an aseptic environment and the potential for pulp exposure, which may negate its effectiveness.

The post Discoveries in Dental Focus #2 – Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) for Endodontic procedures appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Hosted by Christina Potestas @christina_oralhealth

Listen on all podcast players

Hi Dental Head Start listeners, Christina here. This episode is a bit of a fangirling moment for me because I sit down with Tabitha Acret @tabitha_dental_hygienist_ , whose journey beyond Uni is quite inspirational. We talk about her initial work in both general and specialist practices, travelling around the world and presenting Guided Biofilm therapy to international audiences and all the serious life lessons in between that help us become better clinicians. Tabitha is about to complete her master’s degree in Advanced Periodontics at the University of London and is an academic at the Sydney University. Keep listening to hear her story and how she continues to  make the most out of her Oral Health Degree.

0:00:00 – Tabitha Acret’s journey into dentistry, starting from being obsessed with teeth as a child and her grandfather being a prosthodontist.

0:03:45 – Tabitha’s experience as a mature age student in the Bachelor of Oral Health degree, particularly struggling with the science subjects.

0:07:38 – The most challenging part of Tabitha’s university experience was statistics and math. 0:09:21 – Tabitha enjoyed embryology and clinical skills the most during her studies.

0:10:00 – Tabitha’s first job as a dental hygienist in a general practice, and the importance of finding a mentoring environment.

0:15:00 – The differences between working in a specialist periodontal practice versus a general practice.

0:23:35 – How a course in the US on guided biofilm therapy sparked Tabitha’s passion for periodontics.

0:29:49 – Tabitha’s involvement with EMS Dental in introducing airflow and guided biofilm therapy to Australia.

0:47:29 – Tabitha’s perspective on the benefits of having oral health therapists and hygienists working alongside dentists.

0:52:53 – Tabitha’s current projects, including finishing her Master’s degree, becoming Lego Serious Play certified, and her role as a permanent academic at the University of Sydney.

0:59:23 – Tabitha’s top tip for new graduates is to focus on building a strong clinical foundation in the first few years before diversifying.

Tabitha Acret is a dedicated and passionate award-winning Dental Hygienist. She studied a Bachelor of Oral Health at Newcastle University, completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Health and is currently a Clinical Master student at the University of Central London Eastman Campus.

Tabitha has become one of the most sought-after Hygienists and Educators in Australia and internationally with a fast-growing and loyal customer base of patients, dental professionals and media. Tabitha was previously the National Vice-President for the Dental Hygienists Association of Australia and has volunteered in many roles since graduation for the Association. She also has a passion for education with students, working as lecturer at Sydney University as well as a Clinical Educator for implant maintenance and non-surgical periodontal therapy.  Currently, she also works two days a week in private practice.

Get in touch with Tabitha

Email: [email protected] 

Instagram: @tabitha_dental_hygienist_

The post Feature #94 – Making the most of our Oral Health degree with Tabitha Acret appeared first on Dental Head Start.

Welcome to What I Wish I Knew by Dental Head Start. This is a podcast where we learn from people that have been there, made the mistakes, learnt the lessons and have developed into the accomplished dental professionals they are today.

It’s your weekly mentoring session.

Hosted by Hieu Dong

During endo simulation clinic we’re taught how to drill the ideal access cavity, instrument and irrigate till all those nasty bugs are gone and beautifully obturate the canals till everything is sealed. But what happens in between appointments in real life?

In this episode, Dr Harry Mohan, a specialist endodontist breaks down how to protect the tooth in between each appointment and gives some practical tips on how to and why to place interim/temporary restorations. Dr Mohan breaks down the restorative workflow in endo from completely stripping down the tooth and protecting that coronal seal till a definitive restoration can be placed.

Dr Mohan is also running a not-for-profit Dental CPD event where 100% of the profit goes to vulnerable populations in Asia.

Check out the exciting lineup of speakers below and purchase your tickets soon as the event is under one month away on Saturday the 17th of August, 2024.

Find out more details and purchase tickets here: www.trybooking.com/CRCZX

P.S. there is a significant discount for current students and new graduates!

Dr Harry Mohan completed his Bachelor of Dental Science at the University of Melbourne in 2008, before commencing work as a Dental Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. In 2015, he completed the Doctor of Clinical Dentistry specialising in Endodontics at the University of Melbourne and has special interests in dental trauma and helping patients with dental fear and anxiety. Harry is a lecturer at The University of Sydney, an honorary Clinical Tutor at the University of Melbourne and a regular CPD presenter across Australia. He maintains a specialist referral-based Endodontic practice in Southwest Sydney and runs an annual not-for-profit CPD fundraiser, Dental Aid, which raises money to address poverty in Asia. 

The post TIP #144 – Restorative Workflow in Endodontics with Dr Harry Mohan appeared first on Dental Head Start.