In this episode of Conversations with Chris, I’m joined by Vaidas Varinauskas, PhD, implant dentist and oral surgeon based in Dublin, and clinical lead at Seapoint Clinic, one of the standout practices in Ireland. Vaidas shares a refreshingly honest back story, born and raised in Lithuania, shaped by an early sporting career as a national champion rower, and later by nine years in Kaunas Medical University, where he trained as an oral surgeon and completed a PhD in biomedical sciences. We talk about what it is really like to run a small practice as a clinical couple, the pressure it puts on family life, and why, after selling their practice and moving to Ireland, he chose the structure and support of a larger clinical team. We explore the shift to fully digital implant workflows, the impact on chair time, stress, and efficiency, and Vaidas’s view that AI will become a daily assistant in planning, diagnosis support, and clinical note taking, while the human side of care remains irreplaceable. A key clinical theme is the “zero bone loss” concept, developed by Professor Tomas Linkevicius. Vaidas explains why it matters, why adoption is still relatively limited, and what needs to change in mindset and lab collaboration to deliver predictable long-term outcomes. He also shares how important his relationship with his technician is, in his case literally a family member, and why the team around the clinician, particularly TCOs, skilled nurses and strong management, is critical in building patient confidence and handling financial conversations properly. We close with Vaidas’s advice to younger dentists, embrace digital, find a mentor, keep learning, and do not be afraid to ask questions, even after 20 years in practice.
