The ODONTOJAM Podcast

What do professional AFL footballers and dentists have in common? More than you might think.

While elite sport and dentistry may seem worlds apart, both demand exceptional focus, precision, resilience and the ability to perform under pressure. Both involve managing expectations, navigating uncertainty, overcoming mistakes and maintaining confidence when the stakes are high.

In this episode, Dr. Jesse sits down with former AFL player and InPlay founder Kaine Baldwin to explore the surprising parallels between these two professions.

Drawing on his experiences with career-threatening injuries, performance anxiety and his background in neuroscience, Kaine shares practical insights into mindfulness, breathwork, managing negative thoughts and developing mental resilience.

Together, they explore how the lessons learned on the football field can translate into the dental surgery, and why true resilience isn't about never losing focus or experiencing failure — it's about learning how to recover, refocus and keep moving forward.

Episode Timestamps

00:20 – Introduction: What dentistry and AFL have in common

01:15 – Managing pressure, fear and negative thoughts

03:23 – Redefining mental resilience: The art of returning to focus

04:51 – Kaine's AFL journey, injuries and introduction to neuroscience

07:00 – The philosophy behind InPlay: Focus, freedom and playfulness

09:12 – Teaching mindfulness and mental resilience to young people

12:24 – The four stages of attention and training your mind to refocus

15:18 – Resilience vs persistence: Knowing when to push and when to stop

17:01 – Identity, obsession and the psychological pressures of high performance

22:32 – Performance anxiety and the power of breathwork

25:52 – Building a daily mindfulness practice

27:13 – Visualisation, overcoming mistakes and preparing for uncertainty

30:54 – Staying motivated through long-term injury and setbacks

34:03 – Kaine's future AFL ambitions and growing the InPlay app

In this episode, Dr Jesse sits down with Amos, Managing Editor and Publisher of Australasian Dentist, for a wide-ranging conversation about how Australian dentistry has evolved over the past 25 years — from the way dentists learn and communicate, to digital dentistry, AI, practice management and the changing expectations of patients.

Amos shares the story of how his background in journalism led him into dental publishing in the early 2000s, and why he quickly developed such an appreciation for the precision, responsibility and craftsmanship involved in dentistry.

They also go behind the scenes of the Australian Dental Awards, exploring why Amos decided it was time for Australian dentistry to have its own major awards night, what stood out to him while reviewing practices from around the country, and his vision for making the event a fixture of the Australian dental calendar.

The conversation then turns to the future of dentistry: the growth of implantology and orthodontics, the importance of communication and business skills for young dentists, digital scanning and photography, AI scribes, patient education, dental conferences and the risks surrounding overseas dental tourism.

Thank you Amos for joining us on the show. 

Links to apply for the Australian Dental Awards

https://www.australasiandentist.com.au/news/application-nomination-period-2026-now-open/

TIMESTAMPS

00:22 — How Australasian Dentist began

05:19 — How dentistry has changed over 25 years

10:33 — The story behind the Australian Dental Awards

18:19 — What makes an award-winning dental practice

23:17 — The future of the Australian Dental Awards

25:52 — Emerging trends in dentistry

28:26 — What dental school doesn't teach you

33:26 — Odontogems & making teeth fun for kids

36:52 — Digital dentistry & patient education

40:04 — AI and the future of dentistry

43:07 — Australian dentistry & dental tourism

45:16 — Final thoughts

In this episode of The ODONTOJAM Podcast, Dr. Jesse Liang sits down with paediatric dentist and researcher Dr. Mihiri Silva to explore some of the most misunderstood aspects of children's oral health.

Drawing on both clinical experience and research, Mihiri discusses why pain can be difficult to recognise and interpret in children, how emerging technologies such as intraoral scanners and AI-assisted caries detection may transform diagnosis, and the challenges of managing Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH).

The conversation also dives into behaviour change, communication with children and parents, oral health inequities, and why improving children's oral health often requires addressing social and environmental factors beyond the dental clinic.

Whether you're a general dentist, oral health therapist, specialist, student, or parent, this episode offers practical insights into the complexities of caring for young patients.

Key Topics & Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – Understanding pain in children and why pain perception is more complex than many clinicians realise

04:30 – Digital dentistry, intraoral scanners, and the future of AI-assisted caries detection

06:30 – Managing Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH): beyond the visible enamel defects

09:20 – Clinical decision-making for MIH and the challenges of long-term treatment planning

11:30 – Stainless steel crowns, restorative options, and preserving compromised teeth

12:20 – Practical strategies for engaging anxious children in the dental setting

14:40 – Working effectively with parents and managing expectations

17:40 – Oral health inequities in Australia and the social determinants of dental disease

20:00 – Behaviour change, psychology, and why knowledge alone rarely changes habits

22:30 – School-based oral health education and prevention programs

24:00 – Advice for dentists considering a career in paediatric dentistry

25:20 – Final thoughts and wrap-up

Connect

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In this episode, Dr. Jesse Liang sits down with Ben Condon, Clinical Director of Heidi, to explore how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape the daily workflow of clinicians.

Across healthcare—including dentistry, medicine, and allied health—administrative tasks continue to grow. Documentation, compliance, patient communication, and clinical record keeping often consume a significant portion of a clinician’s day. In many cases, this administrative burden pulls practitioners away from the core of their profession: caring for patients.

Heidi was created to address exactly this challenge.

During the conversation, Ben shares the philosophy behind Heidi and how the platform was designed specifically for clinicians who want to reclaim time in their day while maintaining accurate and high-quality documentation.

Dr. Jesse and Ben discuss how this administrative load contributes to clinician fatigue, workflow inefficiency, and reduced time for meaningful patient interaction.

AI solutions like Heidi aim to reverse that trend by automating parts of the clinical workflow that are repetitive and time-consuming.

Heidi EVIDENCE: Supporting Clinical Decision-Making

Another major topic discussed in the episode is Heidi Evidence, a tool designed to support clinicians with real-time access to clinical knowledge.

Rather than searching through multiple sources or navigating guideline databases, Heidi Evidence connects clinical documentation and decision-making in one integrated workflow.

As Ben explains during the episode:

“From documentation to decision-making, Heidi Evidence connects it all in real time, with zero ads and no commercial influence.”

The goal is to provide clinicians with quick, reliable access to evidence-based information while maintaining independence from commercial bias.

https://www.heidihealth.com/en-au/evidence 

Heidi Unlocked is your chance to see Heidi and healthcare AI in action like never before. The event will include hands-on demonstrations, expert insights, and practical workflows showing how AI can be implemented immediately in clinical practice.

📍 Heidi Unlocked — 19 March, Melbourne

For clinicians interested in the future of AI in healthcare, this event offers an opportunity to explore the technology in a practical and interactive setting.

Registration is available here:
https://www.heidihealth.com/en-au/events/heidi-unlocked-live-in-melbourne-2026

Key Takeaways from the Episode

• Administrative burden remains one of the biggest challenges in modern clinical practice.
• Heidi’s AI scribe helps reduce time spent on documentation by automatically generating consultation notes.
• Heidi Evidence provides real-time access to evidence-based clinical guidance with no ads or commercial influence.
• AI tools in healthcare are increasingly focused on supporting clinicians rather than replacing them.
• Events like Heidi Unlocked provide clinicians an opportunity to explore healthcare AI in a hands-on environment.

In this conversation Sonny and Rob discuss the transformative impact of digital tools and AI in dentistry. They explore the top digital tools every dentist should be using, the efficiency gains from AI, and the importance of data safety. The discussion also highlights the common pitfalls dentists face when integrating these technologies and the need for a supportive community to navigate the evolving landscape of digital dentistry.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction to Digital Dentistry and AI Tools
05:27 Top Digital Tools for Dentists
12:06 Enhancing Efficiency with AI in Practice
14:02 The Impact of Digital Tools on Patient Experience
21:13 Common Pitfalls in Digital Dentistry and AI Usage
25:01 Understanding AI Limitations and Responsibilities
27:51 Navigating AI Tools for Clinical Use
31:09 Customizing AI for Patient Communication
35:03 The Birth of Digital Dentistry Study Clubs
40:01 Building Community in Digital Dentistry
45:03 Upcoming Events and Future Directions

To learn more about Sonny's upcoming courses be sure to visit the ADDA website

https://digitaldentistryacademy.com.au/ 

GUEST BIOS

Dr Sonny Lee, BDSc (UWA), PgCert Adv Aesth & Rest Dent (Portsmouth), Fellow ofPierre Fauchard Academy (FPFA) is a restorative dentist and founder of the Australian Digital Dentistry Academy in Perth, Australia. He runs a fully digital clinic, lab, charity clinic , with almost 20 years of experience in CAD/CAM, exocad and 3D printing. In his courses he shares practical, real-world workflows for exocad design and Sprintray 3D printing that can be applied immediately in daily practice.

Dr. Rob brings over 20 years of dental experience to Ashburton Family Dental. After graduating from the University of Otago in 2004, he began his career as a house surgeon at Auckland Hospital, where he developed strong foundations in complex and emergency dental care. Inspired by his keen interest in implant dentistry, Dr. Rob completed a Graduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry at the University of Melbourne in 2021. He is also one of a handful of Digital Smile Design (DSD) Masters in Australia and has recently started up the ADDA Vic Chatper (see links below).

https://www.digitaldentistryacademyvic.com.au/

Understanding Chronic Pain: Misconceptions and Effective Management Strategies

Chronic pain affects millions of people, yet it’s still widely misunderstood. In this episode, we unpack what pain actually is, why chronic pain can persist even when scans appear “normal,” and why treating pain isn’t as simple as fixing damaged tissue.

We explore pain as a protective alarm system—one designed to keep us safe—but discuss how, in chronic pain, that system can become overprotective. The conversation challenges the common belief that ongoing pain always equals ongoing injury, highlighting research showing that many people with structural changes on scans experience no pain at all.

A key focus of the episode is the role of the nervous system and central sensitization, where pain signals become amplified over time. Using simple, relatable analogies, we explain how pain can be driven by sensitivity rather than damage—and why understanding this can be both empowering and relieving for patients.

We also dive into the thinking behind More Good Days, an initiative created to bridge the gap between evidence-based pain science and what many patients are actually offered in clinical care. The discussion highlights the importance of education, movement, psychology, and human connection in helping people rebuild confidence in their bodies.

Ultimately, this episode reinforces a critical message: effective chronic pain management requires a multidisciplinary approach that treats the whole person—not just the site of pain.

Episode Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Understanding Chronic Pain
What pain really is, why it exists as a protective mechanism, and how chronic pain differs from acute injury.

00:51 – Rethinking Pain and Damage
Challenging the assumption that pain always equals physical damage, and why scans don’t always tell the full story.

04:49 – The Journey to More Good Days
How the idea for More Good Days emerged and the gap it aims to close in chronic pain care.

10:29 – Explaining Pain to Patients
Why education matters, how understanding pain reduces fear, and the role of language in recovery.

16:40 – Recognizing Central Sensitization
How the nervous system can amplify pain signals and what this means for chronic pain sufferers.

22:09 – Engaging Patients in Their Recovery
Movement, confidence-building, and tailoring approaches to individual patients.

24:50 – Clinicians as Patients: Common Patterns
Shared behaviours clinicians fall into when experiencing pain themselves—and what we can learn from it.

Summary

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Varun Garg shares his expertise on indirect restorations, emphasizing the importance of communication with both patients and ceramists. He discusses the critical aspects of provisionalization, material selection, and cementation protocols, while also addressing the nuances of finishing lines and margins. Varun highlights the significance of teaching in refining one's own skills and announces upcoming courses aimed at enhancing practical knowledge in dentistry.

Chapters

00:00 The Art of Indirect Restorations
07:03 Communication: The Key to Patient Satisfaction
10:53 Mastering Clinical Skills for Precision
12:53 The Importance of Provisionalization
18:26 Mixing Materials: A Balancing Act
22:42 Finalizing the Bonding Process
23:48 Mastering Aesthetic Restorations
26:56 The Importance of Etching and Bonding
28:55 Finishing Lines and Margins in Veneer Preparations
33:16 Insights from Teaching and Learning
38:22 Upcoming Courses and Educational Initiatives
43:09 ODONTO OUTRO FINAL.mp3

This conversation delves into the complexities of tooth cracks, exploring their diagnosis, management, and the underlying engineering principles that inform dental practices. Dr. Martin Gale shares insights on the importance of understanding the mechanics of cracks, the role of material science in dental restorations, and effective patient communication strategies. The discussion emphasizes the need for a thorough pain history, the significance of infection management, and the impact of material choices on treatment outcomes.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Cracks in Dentistry
02:08 Challenges in Diagnosing Tooth Cracks
04:32 Exploring the Pathology of Cracks
06:51 Management Strategies for Cracks
09:24 The Importance of Crack Localisation
11:59 The Role of Magnification in Crack Treatment
14:36 Patient Communication and Expectations
17:05 Material Science in Dentistry
19:58 Understanding Bacterial Load and Pulp Response
22:29 Layering Techniques in Composite Restoration
25:00 The Mechanics of Composite vs. Ceramic Overlays
27:40 Innovations in Core Build-Up Materials
30:07 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Thanks you Martin for joining us on the show!

n this episode, Dr. Jesse Liang sits down with oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Sophia Richardson to unpack what really happens when an “easy” extraction suddenly becomes complicated. Sophia shares how to stay composed when root tips fracture, strategies for managing surgical stress, and the mindset shift from fearing complications to expecting and managing them calmly.

The conversation also explores the art and science of orthognathic surgery, its life-changing impact on function, aesthetics, and airway health, plus Sophia’s journey from general dentistry to specialist training across Australia and the UK. They discuss mentorship, the value of hospital experience and the importance of communication with patients.

A grounded, insightful chat for any dentist who’s ever had their “heart drop” mid-extraction—or anyone curious about pursuing the OMFS pathway!

Bruxism isn’t just “clenching and grinding”—it’s a symptom. In this episode of The Odontojam Podcast, Dr. Jesse Liang sits down with Dr. Damian Teo (TMD & dental sleep medicine clinician/educator) to unpack the modern understanding of bruxism and its relationship to TMD. They separate sleep vs. awake bruxism, explain why the sympathetic fight-or-flight system drives parafunction, and map common triggers—from stress, injury and hormonal changes to sleep-disordered breathing (snoring/OSA) and reflux.
Dr. Teo outlines practical, diagnosis-first management: when to choose permissive vs. non-permissive splints, the risks of splinting unrecognised OSA, and why multidisciplinary care (physio/osteo, psychology, ENT/sleep, TMJ-aware dentistry) matters. He introduces “bracing” (muscle tension without tooth contact), the BruxApp for daytime awareness, posture/SCM links, and strategies to mitigate mandibular advancement splint bite changes (morning exercises/aligner). We also explore acupuncture/low-level laser vs. dry needling.

Key takeaways

• Treat the cause, not just the teeth: screen sleep and reflux before splinting.
• Bracing is common in daytime bruxism—awareness tools can reduce pain quickly.
• Splints protect; they don’t “cure.” Diagnosis dictates design (muscle vs. joint).
• Informed consent and morning deprogramming help manage MAS bite changes.
• Multimodal care (manual therapy, psychological support, sleep medicine, acupuncture/laser) improves outcomes.