The Young Dentist

Sales in dentistry isn't about convincing patients to buy treatment -  it's about understanding what matters to them, building trust and helping them make informed decisions. But how do you have those conversations with confidence, without feeling like you're selling?In this episode, we're joined by Justin Leigh: bestselling author of Inspire, Influence, Sell, founder of Focus4growth and sales training partner for the British Dental Industry Association. With over three decades of experience in the dental industry, Justin shares how the right approach to communication can transform the patient experience and the way a practice grows. We explore how to build rapport, ask better questions, handle objections and talk about treatment costs naturally. Justin also breaks down his INSPIRE approach to sales and explains why developing your communication skills is just as important as developing your clinical confidence.Whether you're a dental student, newly qualified dentist or looking to grow your practice, this episode will change the way you think about sales.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

Dr Shivana Anand is a prosthodontic specialist and co-founder of Dental Training Consultants, which has helped over 11,000 students prepare for dental foundation and core training.But behind her career is a journey of navigating the challenges of university, specialist training and finding her place in dentistry,  all while learning to balance clinical practice with life outside the surgery.In this episode, Shivana shares what specialist training is really like, why you shouldn’t rush into postgraduate courses before discovering what you enjoy and how to find your passion through experience. She also discusses the realities of balancing clinical work with teaching, the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and why success isn’t about being the best at everything - it’s about being happy with the life you build.Specialist dentistry, honest career advice and a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to success. Let’s get into it!https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

Missing out on dental school by just 1% could have changed everything for Dr Yewande. Instead, she tried again, found her own path and turned a setback into the beginning of a career she never could have imagined.Today, she’s an award-winning dentist who won Best Young Dentist in 2024, a cosmetic dentist passionate about transforming smiles, and one of the familiar faces sharing her dental journey on social media. In this episode, Yewande opens up about building confidence as a young dentist, why you shouldn’t rush to match someone else’s clinical abilities and the lessons she learnt from cases that didn’t go to plan. She also shares how to build trust with patients through social media, why authenticity matters more than chasing views and how to know when to say no to treatment that isn’t right for a patient.From starting a YouTube channel at dental school to winning a major dental award, Yewande’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to follow everyone else’s path to build a career you love. It’s about staying consistent, backing yourself and finding your own way.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

Dr Chris Jordan is a general dentist with a special interest in orthodontics and his journey has been about nine years of figuring out what he genuinely loves about dentistry. From being a self-confessed “course junkie” to completing postgraduate training and learning from some of the biggest mentors in orthodontics, he has built his career around constantly getting better.But his story is also about knowing when to change direction. After seeing 47 NHS patients in one day, Chris realised he wanted to spend more time with patients and do things properly. In this episode, you’ll hear why aligners are just a tool, why diagnosis and treatment planning matter more than the software and how early orthodontic intervention can change a child’s future. Chris also shares his approach to patient communication, mentorship, remote monitoring and building a true partnership with patients.A different route into orthodontics, a lot of lessons along the way and a dentist who found his passion by refusing to stop learning. There’s plenty to take away from this one.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

What does it take to still love dentistry after more than 50 years? Dr Mervyn Druian is in his 80s and still practising, still learning and still getting up early to see his patients. His career has taken him from South Africa to London, where he helped pioneer preventive dentistry, tooth whitening and aesthetic dentistry at a time when many of these approaches were barely known in the UK.But his story isn’t just about dentistry. It’s about having a philosophy, setting goals and constantly looking for ways to get better. In this episode, you’ll hear how to build a truly preventive practice, why patient communication can completely change the way you present treatment, and the framework Mervyn uses to think about philosophy, vision, mission and goals. He also shares his approach to lifelong learning, mentorship and why he still feels lucky to be a dentist after all these years.A career spanning generations, a lifetime of learning and a dentist who has no plans to retire anytime soon. Let’s get into it.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

Dr. Payman Sobhani went straight from foundation training into Harley Street, built his career around private dentistry and eventually moved into practice ownership. But his journey has been less about following one narrow path and more about learning, failing and refining his approach along the way.In this episode, you’ll hear why Payman believes being a general dentist can be a superpower, how to build consultations that patients actually trust, and how technology can completely change the way you communicate treatment. He also shares why young dentists shouldn’t rush to specialise, the importance of getting the basics right, and how failure and experience are part of becoming better at what you do.From rubber dam and photography to practice ownership, mentorship and finding your flow state, this is an episode about passion, patience and playing the long game.You might be on an earlier stop, but you’re on the same train. Let’s get into it.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling behind at dental school, Dr Nicola Gore has been there too. She failed her first-year exams and was once told she didn’t have the manual dexterity to become a good dentist.Today, she teaches at King’s, has co-authored *Dentistry in a Nutshell*, founded the British Iranian Dental Association, and has spent decades supporting students, foundation dentists and young clinicians.But her journey wasn’t straightforward. From moving to the UK at 17 and working her way into dental school, to travelling and working in Australia, building her career and eventually making more time to give back, Nicola has learnt a lot about what it really takes to build a career in dentistry.In this episode, you’ll hear how to navigate the jump from dental school to foundation training and why you should grab opportunities even when you’re not sure where they’ll lead. Nicola also shares her advice for your 20s, why you shouldn’t rush into every course going, and some of the things that can go very wrong in the dental surgery.From failing exams to wanting to open her own university, this is an episode about resilience, ambition and making the most of the opportunities in front of you.A dentist, educator, author and mentor with decades of experience - let’s get into it.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

If you found perio boring at dental school, you are not alone. Dr Reena Wadia felt exactly the same way. Pocket charts, gum gardening -  none of it excited her.She is now the founder and principal periodontist at RW Perio on Harley Street, founder of Perio School, and author of The Perio Handbook, published in 2024 and reviewed in the British Dental Journal. She graduated top of every single year at Barts and The London and won the University of London Gold Medal.But something changed. Today, she is making the case that perio is one of the most underrated areas of dentistry and what changed her mind might change yours too.In this episode, you’ll learn exactly when to treat a perio case yourself and when to refer, and why those decisions can land dentists in trouble. You’ll discover how to get more from non-surgical treatment and why a deep pocket doesn’t automatically mean a scalpel. And you’ll hear the story of a man who came in for a routine hygiene appointment and left with something nobody was looking for.A big name in UK dentistry, with a lot to say. Let’s get into it.https://www.henryschein.co.uk/blog/dental-blog

In this episode of The Young Dentist, we are joined by the powerhouse that is Cat Edney—award-winning dental therapist, founder of The Modern Therapist, and a leading voice for the future of the dental team. Cat opens up about her incredibly stressful start at King’s College, where she once feared she would never even qualify.Fast forward to today, and Cat has reached what she calls "peak self-actualization" in her career. We dive deep into the journey from being trapped in the "Green Mile" of 30-minute scale and polishes to leading a high-end, therapy-led practice model. In this deep dive, we explore how to break free from the "Green Mile" of routine hygiene work and successfully transition into a therapy-led practice model. Cat explains the transformative power of "referring up," where therapists take the lead as the "GPs of dentistry" to conduct examinations and direct patient care via direct access. We tackle the psychological side of the profession, offering practical advice for new grads on overcoming imposter syndrome and building the clinical confidence needed to pick up a handpiece after years of routine work. Finally, Cat shares her philosophy on finding your "Ikigai"—that perfect intersection of passion and skill—and how building a "tribe" of like-minded peers through community is the ultimate secret to long-term career fulfillment.Whether you are a dental student, a newly qualified therapist, or a dentist looking to optimize your practice through shared care, Cat’s insights are a blueprint for a more fulfilling career.

Today, we are joined by Anil Shrestha, a Specialist in Prosthodontics and former Chair of the Advisory Board at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Operating out of the world-renowned Wimpole Street, Anil’s career is a masterclass in the "Darwinian" necessity of adaptation and the relentless pursuit of clinical excellence. But Anil’s journey didn’t start at the top; from being added as the "extra" student late to his dental school class to navigating the gut-wrenching reality of failing professional exams, he has faced the highest levels of pressure to eventually become the clinician of choice for global VIPs, F1 drivers, and royalty.In this masterclass, we strip back the curtain on a 34-year career to reveal the psychological and practical frameworks required to reach the pinnacle of dentistry. Anil explains why your ability to pivot is more critical than your clinical skill in a shifting market, and shares the "Focus, Plan, Schedule, Execute" system that allowed him to transition from academic setbacks to the "Top Gun" environment of the Eastman. We dive deep into the power of his non-negotiable 5:00 AM routine - including meditation and journaling - and discuss the nuanced art of building trust with high-net-worth patients. This isn't just an interview; it is a strategic guide on how to handle failure, master your mindset, and evolve from a struggling student into an elite specialist.Whether you are a dental student looking for a map or a principal dentist looking to rediscover your "flow state," Anil’s three decades of wisdom will fundamentally change the way you view your career.