Conversations with Dental Friends

Rachael
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If you are in the dental industry and feel you have loads of potential and more to give, or maybe you’re new to the dental field, and if you like interesting stories from interesting people that might just inspire your dental future then this podcast is for you!

  1. 20h ago

    S6 Ep : 2 Can Social Media Completely Change Your Dental Career? with Anna Peterson

    From making blue-tack braces 🦷😂 to becoming a dental therapist, educator, content creator for 245k+ people, and working with some of the biggest brands in dentistry… Anna Peterson’s journey is a powerful reminder that you don’t always know where one decision will take you. In this episode, we talk about career pivots, confidence, social media, and what it really looks like behind the polished dental Instagram world. Anna shares how she didn’t get the A level grades she needed for dentistry, and how she only discovered dental therapy after that door closed. From there, she stepped into a role in restorative dentistry, learned new clinical skills years into practice, and eventually found her way into content creation and education online. We also dive into the moment everything changed online, when her first viral video almost got deleted at just 10 views… before unexpectedly reaching nearly one million views in under 24 hours. Since then, social media has opened doors she never expected, including collaborations with Oral-B and NSK, lecturing opportunities, presenting, and educating thousands of people about oral health. But beyond the viral moments, this conversation is really about something deeper. 💡 Key themes we cover: Not getting the grades you expected — and what comes nextDiscovering dental therapy and building confidence clinicallyLearning new skills later in your career (yes, even rubber dam!)The reality of going viral on social mediaBuilding a personal brand in dentistryWorking with major dental brands like Oral-B and NSKThe pressure vs reality of dental social mediaWhy you don’t need to have everything figured outThe importance of kindness in dentistry 🧠 Anna’s biggest reminder: You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to not know everything. You are allowed to build confidence slowly. And you absolutely do not have to follow a traditional route. Because behind every perfect composite, viral video, and polished Instagram feed… there’s a human being figuring it out too. And as Anna beautifully puts it: “We’re all in it together.” 🫶🏼 ⸻ 🔗 Links & Resources 👩‍⚕️ Follow Anna Peterson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annapetersondental?igsh=MWhyNWk5ZHYycXY2eQ==&igsi=MWhyNWk5ZHYycXY2eQ== 📱 Conversations with Dental Friends: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conversationswithdentalfriends?igsh=bTh4ZWRlank3dWJs 💙 Sponsored by Oral-B Explore Oral-B professional products & resources: 👉 https://www.oralbprofessional.co.uk/s/login/ 🦷 Sponsored by NSK Discover NSK dental equipment & solutions: 👉 https://mynsk.co.uk ⸻ ✨ In this episode, we also mention: Rubber dam training and clinical confidenceDental photography and content creationCareer progression in dental therapySocial media growth and unexpected viralityEducation, lecturing, and presenting in dentistry

  2. Aug 13

    S6 Ep 1 : Are You Seeing the Patient or Just the Tooth? Find Your Focus with Dr Ambrish Roshan

    In this episode of Conversations with Dental Friends, I’m joined by Dr Ambrish Roshan, dentist, educator and dental photography enthusiast, for a conversation about finding your direction in dentistry, building a career around the things you genuinely enjoy and why photography can completely change the way you practise. Ambrish shares the story of moving from Singapore to Ireland to study dentistry, the challenges he faced as an international graduate trying to enter the Irish workforce, and how taking a leap of faith has shaped his career. We talk about: 📸 Why dental photography is so much more than before-and-after photos Ambrish explains how documenting each stage of treatment has become one of his most valuable learning and reflection tools, allowing him to identify where things went wrong and continually improve his clinical work. 🦷 Treating the patient, not just the tooth From his early training in implant dentistry to his current restorative work, Ambrish talks about the importance of looking at the patient as a whole and understanding what they actually value when planning treatment. 💬 Putting the patient in the driving seat We discuss listening to patients, understanding their priorities and balancing the three big costs of treatment: time, biology and money. Ambrish shares how he approaches consultations and why understanding a patient’s values can completely change treatment planning. 📷 Creating a simple photography workflow Ambrish talks us through his approach to photographing new patients, including his baseline photographic records, how he uses photography to communicate with patients and why he believes taking 15–20 photographs doesn’t need to take more than two minutes once you have a system. 🎓 Investing in yourself and learning through reflection We talk about his postgraduate training, the photography course that changed his approach and why sometimes the biggest learning comes from reviewing your own work rather than simply completing another course. 📱 Social media, photography & attracting the dentistry you want to do Ambrish shares how posting his clinical photography organically led to patients finding him and explains why showcasing the work you want to do can be such a powerful marketing tool. 🤝 Working with dental brands We also chat about becoming a KOL, choosing brands that align with your values and why authenticity and genuinely using the products you talk about are so important when building trust with your audience. And, of course, we talk about what’s next for Ambrish, including his plans for composite and photography education and some exciting projects coming later in 2026. 🔗 Find Ambrish Instagram: @dr.ambrish.roshan Courses / education: EduDental.ie DON’T FORGET ADD RACHAEL10 AT CHECKOUT FOR 10% OFF 💡 Mentioned in this episode Focus Photography Course – Minesh Patel Michael Crilly Michael Crilly episode Ivoclar DMG / Icon Invisalign If you would like to sign up for Oral-B iO testdrive click here To Sell Is Human – Daniel H. Pink Don’t forget Ambrish has very kindly offered a 10% discount off his upcoming photography course with the code RACHAEL10 Click the course link and add the discount code here ⸻ 🦷 This episode is proudly supported by Oral-B 🦷 This episode is also supported by NSK

  3. Jul 9

    S5 Ep 12 : What Happens When You Advocate from Inside Corporate Dentistry? with Caitlin Miller

    SEASON FINALE 🎙️✨ I genuinely cannot believe we’re already at the final episode of Season 5 of Conversations With Dental Friends 🥹🤍 I’m joined by the brilliant Caitlin Miller, Dental Therapist and Head of Dental Hygiene and Therapy at Bupa Dental Care 👏 This conversation felt SO important because we spoke honestly about what it’s really like working within corporate dentistry, the future of dental hygiene and therapy, and how we can better support clinicians in a profession that can sometimes feel incredibly isolating 💭 from starting out as a dental nurse and finding her place within hygiene and therapy, to now leading national initiatives within Bupa, Caitlin’s journey is such a reminder that careers in dentistry can evolve in ways you never expect ✨ in this episode we chat about: ✨ the realities of working within corporate dentistry ✨ support systems and clinician wellbeing ✨ career progression beyond the surgery ✨ the future of dental therapy within the UK ✨ building community for hygienists and therapists What I loved most about this conversation is how much passion Caitlin has for making hygienists and therapists feel heard, valued and supported 🫶🏼 🎧 listen now wherever you get your podcasts I also just want to say the biggest THANK YOU to everyone who has supported this season of Conversations With Dental Friends 🤍 whether you’ve listened to one episode or every single one, shared the podcast, messaged me after an episode or supported from behind the scenes… thank you so much 🫶🏼 And a huge thank you as well to our sponsors @siobhan_education and @lighthouse_dental_company_ire for supporting this season of the podcast ✨ After this episode we’ll be taking a short summer break ☀️ there are so many exciting things coming for the next season already and I genuinely can’t wait 💫 To find out more about dental hygienist and dental therapist scope of practice click here To find out more about a career in bupa click here To find out more about Siobhan education click here To find out more about light house dental company click here

  4. Jul 1

    S5 Ep 11: What Happens When You Fall Into a Career You End Up Loving? with Stacey Sagar

    New episode of Conversations With Dental Friends is live 🎙️✨ This week I’m joined by the lovely Stacey Saagar and honestly… this conversation felt like such an important reminder that careers in dentistry are allowed to evolve alongside you 🤍 We spoke so openly about confidence, growth, balancing career ambitions with real life, and navigating the pressures that can sometimes come with working in dentistry 💭 From her journey into dental nursing, to education, mentorship and creating a career that aligns with both professional goals and personal priorities, @staceysagar.dental shares so much honesty and perspective throughout this episode 👏🏼 In this episode we chat about: ✨ building confidence within dentistry ✨ balancing family life and career growth ✨ imposter syndrome and self doubt ✨ moving into education and mentorship ✨ creating opportunities beyond clinical practice in the business side of dentistry ✨ the importance of community within dentistry ✨ professional identity and career progression ✨ why your career doesn’t need to look linear to be successful what I loved most about this conversation is how relatable it felt 🫶🏼 🎧 listen now wherever you get your podcasts if you’re currently navigating career uncertainty, trying to build confidence or figuring out what you actually want from your future in dentistry, I really think this episode will resonate 💫 Thankyou so much to @siobhaneducation and @lighthousedentalcompany for sponsoring this episode And as always, if you’d like my free Dental Career Planning Workbook, DM me the word LINK 📚✨ You can find out more about your scope of practice as a dental nurse here You can find out how to become a dental nurse here You can find out more about Stacey’s course here You can find out more about lighthouse dental company here You can find out more about Siobhan’s amazing courses here Don’t forget to follow Stacey on Instagram stacey.sagar_dental You can follow the podcast @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over there too @homegirlhygienist See you next week for the series finale of Conversations with Dental Friends 🎧🎙️💗

  5. Jun 25

    S5 Ep 10 : What Does Female Ownership in Dentistry Really Take? With Dr Raabiha Maan

    New episode of Conversations With Dental Friends is live 🎙️✨ This week I’m joined by the amazing Raahbia Maan and honestly… this conversation felt SO honest, motivating and refreshing 🤍 We spoke about what it really looks like to build confidence in your career while navigating the pressures of dentistry, social media, personal growth and figuring out who you are both inside and outside of the clinic 💭 From her journey into dentistry, to building her online presence, stepping into education and creating opportunities for herself beyond traditional clinical work… @drraabhia story is such a reminder that you don’t have to limit yourself to one version of success 👏 TW we do chat about fertility and miscarriage in the episode so if you’d rather not listen the timestamp for this part of the conversation is in the intro in this episode we chat about: ✨ building confidence as a dental professional ✨ social media and personal branding in dentistry ✨ imposter syndrome and comparison culture ✨ creating opportunities outside of clinical practice ✨ education, mentorship and career growth ✨ balancing ambition with authenticity ✨ finding your people within the profession and @thedentalmumsnetwork What I loved most about this conversation is how openly we spoke about confidence and self belief 🫶🏼 because I think so many people in dentistry are quietly questioning themselves while simultaneously trying to hold everything together professionally, especially as a mum or a female practice owner in dentistry. And hearing someone else be honest about that can feel really reassuring 🤍 Thanks so much to Siobhan Kelleher Education and Lighthouse Dental Company for sponsoring this episode 🎧 listen now wherever you get your podcasts If you’re currently navigating career uncertainty, trying to build confidence, thinking about putting yourself out there online, or figuring out what you want from your future in dentistry, I really think this episode will resonate 💫 and as always, if you’d like my free Dental Career Planning Workbook, DM me the word LINK 📚✨ You can find out more about dental mums network here Find out more about Dr Raabiha’s practice here To find out more about Dentistry in a Nutshell including the new book here You can listen to Raabiha’s Dental Women’s Podcast here To find out more about Siobhan Kelleher education click here To find out more about lighthouse dental company here You can see Dr Raabiha’s instagram here See you next week for another Conversation with Dental Friends

  6. Jun 18

    S5 Ep 9 : What Does It Take to Train the Next Generation of Dental Therapists with Ibby Numan

    New episode of Conversations With Dental Friends is live 🎙️✨ This week I’m joined by the brilliant Ibby Numan and honestly… this conversation felt like such an important one for anyone navigating their career in dentistry 🤍 From starting out as a Dental Nurse at the Eastman, to training as a Dental Therapist during Covid, moving into education, working with BADT and helping therapists build confidence through @restore… Ibby’s story is such a reminder that careers don’t need to be linear to be meaningful 👏 in this episode we chat about: ✨ finding your path in dentistry even when you don’t have it all figured out ✨ the reality of training as a dental therapist ✨ confidence, manual dexterity and overcoming self doubt ✨ the pressure of social media in dentistry ✨ communication skills and why they matter more than perfect composites ✨ the loneliness that can come with working in practice ✨ the importance of community through organisations like BADT ✨ moving into education and giving back to the next generation ✨ balancing ambition, career growth and family life What I loved most about this conversation is how honest it was 💭 We spoke about the highs, the difficult days, imposter syndrome, evolving as a clinician and the fact that nobody picks up a handpiece and becomes incredible overnight. There’s so much power in just keeping going 🫶🏼 and hearing Ibby talk about returning to the Eastman as a tutor after starting there as a student dental nurse genuinely felt like such a full circle moment 🥹 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts If you’re a dental therapist, student therapist or someone feeling a bit stuck in your career right now, I really think this episode will resonate with you 🤍 As always, if you’d like my free Dental Career Planning Workbook, DM me the word LINK 📚✨ everything we discussed including BADT, Restore and education pathways will be linked in the show notes 💫 Huge thankyou to Siobhan Kelleher Education and Lighthouse Dental Company for sponsoring this episode To find out more about dental therapy scope click here Find out more about Eastman Dental School here Find out more about BADT here Find out more about BSDHT here Find out more about restore course here Find out more about Siobhan Kelleher Education here Find out more about Lighthouse Dental Company here See you back here next week with another Conversation with Dental Friends

  7. Jun 11

    S5 Ep 8 : What Does Progress in Dental Hygiene Really Look Like? Sustainable Future - Tracy Doole

    new episode of Conversations With Dental Friends is live 🎙️✨ this week I’m joined by Tracy Doole and honestly… this conversation is such a good reminder that your career doesn’t have to fit into one box 🤍 from starting out in business and temp jobs before finding dentistry through dental nursing, to becoming a dental hygienist, educator, sustainability advocate, BSDHT executive member and clinical educator… @theecohygienist has built a career rooted in curiosity, growth and genuine passion for the profession 👏 in this episode we chat about: ✨ finding your path in dentistry later than expected ✨ the reality of graduating and going straight into practice ✨ perio, implant maintenance and creating better patient outcomes ✨ investing in courses, networking and lifelong learning ✨ building confidence as a clinician ✨ sustainability in dentistry and reducing healthcare waste ✨ mentorship, education and public health ✨ getting involved with BSDHT and professional advocacy ✨ balancing clinical work with opportunities beyond the surgery what I loved most about this conversation is how passionate Tracy is about pushing the profession forward while still staying grounded in patient care 💭 we also spoke about how isolating dental hygiene and therapy can sometimes feel and why community, networking and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you is so important 🫶 Thanks so much to Siobhan Kelleher Education and Lighthouse Dental Company for sponsoring this episode 🎧 listen now wherever you get your podcasts and as always, if you’d like my free Dental Career Planning Workbook, DM me the word LINK 📚✨ You can find out more about dental hygiene and dental therapy here Find out more about studying to be a dental nurse here Find out more about smile academy coaching and mentoring here Find out more about BSDHT here Find out more about NSK Ikigai here Find out more about young innovations here Find out more about Siobhan Kelleher Education with Tracy is an educator here Find out more about lighthouse dental company here See you next week for another conversation with dental friends

  8. Jun 4

    S5 Ep 7 : What Does It Mean to Truly Champion Dental Hygiene? Advocacy & impact with Elaine Tilling

    New episode of Conversations With Dental Friends is live 🎙️✨ This week I’m joined by the incredible Elaine Tilling, someone who has spent decades shaping the dental profession through education, advocacy, public health work and mentorship 🤍 From joining the Royal Air Force at 17, to becoming a dental hygienist, educator, speaker and passionate advocate for oral health, Elaine’s career journey is honestly such a reminder that there is no one “right” path in dentistry 👏🏼 In this episode we chat about: ✨ building a long and meaningful career in dentistry ✨ moving into education and presenting ✨ mentorship and uplifting others in the profession ✨ smoking cessation, vaping and public health ✨ working with brands while maintaining integrity ✨ the importance of community and professional bodies like BSDHT ✨ finding purpose in your career beyond the clinic What I loved most about this conversation is how deeply Elaine believes in giving back and creating opportunities for the next generation of dental professionals 🫶🏼 It’s one of those episodes that leaves you feeling inspired, grounded and reminded why our profession matters so much 💭 🎧 listen now wherever you get your podcasts And if you’re currently thinking about your next step in dentistry, whether that’s education, diversification, content creation or just figuring out what you actually want from your career, DM me the word LINK for my free Dental Career Planning Workbook 📚✨ I’ll also link my Substack and everything we discussed in the show notes 🤍 Huge Thankyou to Siobhan Kelleher Education and Lighthouse Dental Company for sponsoring this episode You can find more about the scope of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy here You can find out more about careers in the RAF here You can find out more about Tepe here You can find out more about BSDHT here You can find out more about Siobhan Kelleher Education where Elaine also lectures here You can find out more about Lighthouse Dental Company here See you next week for another Conversation with Dental Friends 🎧

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If you are in the dental industry and feel you have loads of potential and more to give, or maybe you’re new to the dental field, and if you like interesting stories from interesting people that might just inspire your dental future then this podcast is for you!

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