A Dental Practice is a Long-Term Game

Why are so many dental offices toxic work environments? We are trained to fix teeth, yet when a dentist opens a practice, they must now possess the knowledge to manage staff, market, provide good customer service, etc. That’s a lot of extra responsibilities we were never trained in. Together with an already stressful profession, the result can be gossip, drama, a high staff rotation, and a very toxic environment to work in.In this conversation, we try to answer the question: How to spot a toxic dental clinic in a work interview? We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠Follow Soft Bites on IG ⁠@softbitespodcast and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry & ⁠⁠@andredolf

Having a knowledgeable dental office manager is not only good for the dental practice but also helps the dental team succeed and grow. In this episode, Jorge Adré shares his experience, and we reflect on the benefits of having a dental office manager.We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

Have you ever worked for a dental clinic where a ‘work-family' environment is promoted? Or are you a dental clinic owner who encourages the internal culture of "We’re a family here"?In our Conscious Leadership Course in Dentistry, we always pointed out how this "family" culture is not the right one for a dental clinic.It seems like something of little importance. However, colleagues usually say the "work family" environment in a dental clinic is used positively, so everyone feels valued and close.However, this "work-family" culture can make it more difficult to set healthy boundaries and cause harm to both the company and employees.One of our main focuses is creating healthy work environments in dental clinics ("drama-free" clinics, as Jorge André likes to call them). A big part of the work is shifting the mentality from ‘we’re all in this together’ to ‘we’re all working towards the same purpose’. We teach you how you can implement and achieve this mentality in a sustainable way at your dental clinic.We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better, so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

We all have been there; as dentists, we all get to work with an alpha nurse at least once throughout our careers. In this conversation, we try to understand the dynamics of working with an alpha nurse from the perspective of a young dentist or a practice owner.We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠Follow Soft Bites on IG ⁠@softbitespodcast and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

Dentistry has no shortcomings. A successful dental practice is a long-term game, and dentists must learn to play it if they want a long and fulfilling career. Surrounding yourself with good people is one of the many secrets to playing the long game, but there are many more. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠Follow Soft Bites on IG ⁠@softbitespodcast and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry & ⁠⁠@andredolf

It’s still easy for dental clinics to offer minimum to low wages and salaries – especially if the applicants have no differentiated education or are new to dentistry. However, not every employee will comply and accept the offered payment, especially when they know how much money your clinic makes. When that happens, consequences will affect all dental practice, and can include low loyalty, high employee turnover, poor performance, low morale, or/and poor company culture. We know while it may seem straightforward to increase wages, a combination of economic, market, and social factors also complicates the situation. However, addressing these issues should be a priority if you want to build and maintain a strong team. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/ ⁠Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

In this episode, we talk to António Roma Torres, a Portuguese endodontist with a private practice focused on advanced endodontics, utilizing surgical microscopes for precision treatment. António is a graduate of the University Fernando Pessoa in Porto (DDS, 2010) and a Specialty Training at Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon (2013-2016) in endodontics, and has been training dental professionals in endodontics and clinical microscope use since 2015. In addition to clinical practice, António has held key roles within the Portuguese Dental Association, serving as President of its Continuing Training Centre (2020-2024) and currently as a Board Member. He also represents Portugal as National Liaison Officer at the FDI World Dental  Federation since 2022. Topics: - How António got into dentistry; - Why endodontics? - Biggest career challenges until; - Exploring new paths in dentistry as a part of the Portuguese Dental Association; - How music shapes and reflects in António's everyday dentistry practice. Connect with António on Instagram at ⁠https://www.instagram.com/antonio_roma_torres/⁠ and on LinkedIn at ⁠https://pt.linkedin.com/in/artendo⁠ You can listen to Art Talks podcast here ⁠http://bit.ly/4e2TUZ8 Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠ Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

In this episode, we dive deep into how can we develop the (genuine) desire to help others succeed in a highly competitive field like dentistry. First question: Do you feel joy at other's dentist's success? Or does their good news make you feel competitive? It’s impossible to find anyone who’s entirely self-made—we all rely on and benefit from others. Insight: Viewing individual success as communal is the way. Do you find yourself spending more time comparing and less time celebrating? What are some practical ways you can show support instead of harboring jealousy? Share in the comments some of the things you do when you find yourself in this kind of situation. The Podcast mentioned by Jorge André is Rich Rool. The book is The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠ Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry ⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

In this episode, we talk to Mehy Lo Presti, a specialist in restorative dentistry based in London and co-founder of Global Dental Collective, a community for dentists that brings joy and creativity to dentistry. Mehy talks about his journey in dentistry, Global Dental Collective, and  Dentorama, which is not your typical seminar but a revolutionary way of learning and networking. Imagine watching real actors bring to life everyday challenges we all face, right in front of your eyes. Then, just as the tension peaks, the scene freezes. A panel of experts steps in, offering insights and practical solutions to the dramas you’ve just witnessed. But that’s not all, you, the audience, get to share your thoughts, ask questions, and even suggest your own solutions! And after all that thought-provoking action? It’s time to relax, network, and have a blast at a fabulous afterparty in one of London’s most incredible venues. Next Event: Dentorama | 18.10.24 | Royal Institution, London  Topics: - How Mehy got into dentistry. - The story behind Dental Collective and Dentorama. - What dentists struggle more at this point in time. - The NHS - private transition many practices are doing in UK and the struggles dentistry is facing in UK. - The trend towards easy-fix cosmetics in dentistry. - Are students ready to learn about soft skills in dentistry? Links here: Dentorama Tickets Info: www.globaldentalcollective.com/dentorama Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠ Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

Last year we were invited by an enthusiastic colleague to take our Conscious Leadership in Dentistry Course to Amsterdam. We were curious and scheduled a meeting. We discovered Olavo Guerreiro Viegas, a passion-driven dentist wanting to bring something new to dentistry. In this conversation, we discussed Olavo's journey in dentistry until now, moving from Portugal to France and The Netherlands, the expectations and reality of studying and working abroad, the passion for endodontics, the many challenges of owning a dental practice, exploring new paths in dentistry, and the inspiration for starting a dentistry academy. Insight: Working with something you are passionate about will motivate you to keep learning, develop new skills, and stay excited. Olavo graduated as a dentist from the Universidade de Coimbra in Portugal in 2013. He then spent three years in general practice as a dentist in Portugal and France. In September 2019, he completed his training as a dental endodontist at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, and since 2016, his work has consisted exclusively of endodontics. He is the co-owner of Endo en Zo - a referral practice for endodontics in Amsterdam - and the co-founder of Endo en Zo Academy - a training center for endodontics. Connect with Olavo on Instagram @endodonticsolavo @endoenzoacademy and LinkedIn at Olavo Guerreiro Viegas. Know more about Endo en Zo Academy and its courses at www.endoenzoacademy.com We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us better understand you and our profession so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠ Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠