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Contact Point Podcast

Dr Simon Chard

Exploring the people and ideas shaping the next decade of dentistry.

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Monday · 1 hr 51 min
It Takes More Discipline To Stop: Jamie Clements On Burnout, Breath And Why Rest Feels Like Risk
Most people think discipline means never stopping. Jamie Clements thinks that's backwards. Dr Simon Chard sits down with breath work practitioner and founder of The Breath Space, Jamie Clements, for a conversation about why dentistry burns people out - and why the fix is less exotic, and harder, than most of us want it to be. In this conversation: - Why "you're breathing wrong" is the wrong message - and what functional breathing actually means - The mouth-breathing cascade: airway, facial growth, saliva and caries risk - What dentists can do in the 20 seconds they spend light-curing a composite - Acute vs chronic stress, and why burnout is a shrinking of capacity rather than too much work - "The calmest person in the room is in charge" - vagal authority and clinical leadership - Why rest feels like risk to high performers, and what sits underneath frustration - The anti-optimisation backlash, wearables, and the recovery score that came after a festival - Grief, gratitude, and what Jamie learned from the worst year of his life - Faith, consciousness and why people want to go to church without going to church Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Discipline of Rest & The Houses on the Line 00:02:13 From Corporate Finance to Breathwork: Jamie's Origin Story 00:06:12 The Breathwork Industry: From Niche to Mainstream 00:10:22 What is Breathwork? The Full Spectrum Explained 00:14:29 Functional Breathing: Nose, Slow, Expansive 00:18:08 Dentistry Meets Breathwork: Mouth Breathing & Airway Health 00:23:27 Nervous System Regulation: Tools for Acute & Chronic Stress 00:35:24 The Grind Culture Trap: Why High Performers Struggle to Rest 00:40:40 Micro Pauses & Integration: Breath as a Way of Life 01:02:32 The Anti-Optimization Movement: Wellness Anarchists & Balance 01:17:18 Emotions, Frustration & Core Wounds: Working Through Resistance 01:21:17 Grief as Love With Nowhere to Go 01:27:06 Faith, God & Universal Consciousness: Breath as Gateway 01:40:13 The Modern Church: Community, Connection & Non-Contrived Spaces 01:45:56 Beyond Labels: The Freedom of Being Multi-Hyphenate ▬▬▬▬▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬▬▬▬▬ Jamie Clements is a breath work practitioner, facilitator and founder of The Breath Space. Over seven years he has moved from a career in fintech and startups into full-time breathwork - running retreats, one-to-one work, corporate wellbeing programmes and a teacher training programme that has now taken 55 facilitators through its first cohort. ▬▬▬▬▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬▬▬▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is Past President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, and principal of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice. ▬▬▬▬▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬▬▬▬▬ Barclays Business Banking Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare' online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬▬▬▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬▬▬▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast Listen on Apple, Spotify and all podcast apps. #ContactPoint #Dentistry #Breathwork #DentalBurnout #UKDentist #PracticeOwner #DentalWellbeing #Airway #MouthBreathing #Podcast
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August 17 · 2 hr 11 min
Your Value May Be Less Than You Think: Dev Patel On Salaried Dentistry.
A dentist's value is about to fall. The man buying practices at scale just said it out loud. Contact Point - the podcast on dentistry's next decade, hosted by Dr Simon Chard. Dev Patel built Dental Beauty Partners out of nothing and straight through the middle of a market the corporates thought they owned. In this conversation he explains why practice count is vanity, why almost every group stalls at the same point, and what happens to the self-employed associate when robots arrive in the surgery. In this conversation: -Why he was millions of pounds in personal debt weeks before COVID closed every practice in the country -The partnership model he built instead of the corporate roll-up, and why he thinks the incumbents got it backwards -Why "how many practices have you got" is the wrong question - and the one to ask instead -The twenty-site trap that catches almost every mini-group in the country -What a practice is actually worth right now, and how to think about timing a sale -Why he believes dentists will be salaried within a decade Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Houses on the Line & The Salaried Dentistry Future 00:01:43 Childhood Entrepreneurship: The Pharmacy MBA at Age Six 00:08:02 The First Practice: 18 Viewings Over Two Years 00:11:08 The Partnership Model: Why 51-49 Changes Everything 00:12:35 The Kureos Case Study: Why Top Company Equity Fails 00:23:12 The EDG Deal: Choosing Growth Over My Dentist 00:24:27 COVID Crisis: £8.5 Million Debt & No Revenue 00:39:13 Multiples Have Crashed: From 15x to 8x in Two Years 00:53:34 The Ego Trap: Revenue vs EBITDA & Why Site Count Doesn't Matter 00:57:57 LinkedIn Over Instagram: The Free MBA & Recruitment Goldmine 01:14:22 The 20 to 50 Site Death Valley: Why Mini Groups Fail 01:16:49 The Sweet Spot: Why 5 to 20 Practices Is The Golden Zone 01:27:15 Start Scale Exit: The Course For The Next Generation 01:33:58 The P&L Wake-Up Call: Nine Nurses For Four Surgeries 01:40:40 NHS Dentistry: Stop Complaining & Start Adapting 01:43:44 The AI Revolution: Linda, Voice Stack & The End of Reception Desks 01:46:01 The Lupin Robot: Veneer Preps in 40 Minutes 01:50:49 The Salaried Future: Five Robots Working 24/7 01:58:51 Regrowing Teeth: When Implants Become Obsolete 02:05:38 The Skills That Matter: Communication, Brand & Patient Journey 02:09:06 Definition of Success: Building Something That Lasts Forever ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dev Patel is the founder of Dental Beauty Partners, one of the UK's fastest-growing independent dental groups, built on a partnership model rather than the standard corporate acquisition structure. He practised clinically before moving full-time into building and operating dental businesses. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, and principal of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice. Contact Point is his long-form interview series on the forces reshaping UK dentistry over the next ten years. ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Barclays Business Banking Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare' online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬ FOLLOW ▬▬ Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Dr Simon Chard: @drsimonchard #ContactPoint #DentistrysNextDecade #UKDentistry #DentalBusiness #PracticeOwner #DentalGroup #DentalPractice #Entrepreneurship #DentistryPodcast
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August 10 · 1 hr 47 min
NHS Dentistry Is Going Backwards: Eddie Crouch, Chair Of The BDA
They told him to walk away or lose his house. He went to the High Court anyway - and beat the Department of Health. Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard. Eddie Crouch is Chair of the British Dental Association. For twenty years he has been the face the profession sends into the room with government — and in this conversation he lays out exactly what happens in those rooms, what has been won, what has been lost, and why the same arguments are still being had two decades on. In this conversation: - The 2006 contract, the termination clause, and the judicial review that put his home on the line - What was actually promised to dentists in 2006 — and what was delivered - Inside the meetings with ministers: who listens, who doesn't, and why the civil servants never change - Why a contract is being renegotiated with no new money on the table - The CMA investigation into private dentistry — what it is really looking at - Cross-subsidisation: how much private work is quietly keeping the NHS afloat - Therapists, skill mix, and the funding gap nobody has costed - Overseas-qualified dentists and what the register looks like by 2034 - Tying graduates to the NHS for three years — and why he calls it handcuffs - The sugar lobby, supervised toothbrushing, and where prevention actually wins Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The House on the Line & The 2006 Contract Battle 00:01:39 From Birmingham to King's: Eddie's Journey Into Dentistry 00:09:08 The Judicial Review: Standing Up to the NHS Litigation Authority 00:20:31 Rising Through the BDA: From Local Dental Committee to National Chair 00:25:04 The 2006 Contract Disaster: Promises vs Reality 00:33:27 The Steele Review: Blueprint for a Working Contract 00:38:35 Meeting the New Government: Labour's First 100 Days 00:44:03 The Recent Contract Changes: Good Intentions, Poor Implementation 00:46:08 The Economics of NHS Dentistry: Why Practices Lose Money 00:59:21 The CMA Investigation: Private Dentistry Under the Microscope 01:11:08 Sugar: The New Tobacco & The Panorama Baby Pouch Exposé 01:19:42 Skill Mix & Therapists: The Workforce Solution Nobody's Funding 01:25:45 The Overseas Dentist Question: Harvesting Talent vs Training Our Own 01:29:20 The Three-Year NHS Commitment: Golden Handcuffs or Smart Policy? 01:36:25 Technology, Prevention & The Future: Reasons for Optimism 01:43:08 The BDA's Invisible Work & The Membership Challenge ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Eddie Crouch is Chair of the British Dental Association, a position he has held since 2020. He qualified from King's College London in 1984 and practised in Birmingham for the majority of his career, latterly in orthodontics. He began in dental politics through his local dental committee, and in 2006 brought a judicial review against the Department of Health over the terms of the new NHS contract - funded largely by donations from the profession - winning at the High Court and again on appeal. He is a regular commentator on NHS dentistry across UK broadcast media. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, and principal at Rothley Lodge Dental Practice. ▬▬ SPONSORS ▬▬ This episode is powered by Barclays Business Healthcare. Search "Barclays Business Healthcare" online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬ FOLLOW ▬▬ Instagram: @contactpointpodcast YouTube: @contactpointpodcast #ContactPoint #DentistrysNextDecade #NHSDentistry #BDA #UKDentistry #DentalPractice #DentistryUK #EddieCrouch #DentalIndustry #PracticeOwner
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August 3 · 1 hr 30 min
Nobody Asks The Price: Sameer Patel On Educate, Don't Sell
Four new patients a day. Sixteen years in one practice. And almost nobody asks the price. Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard. Sameer Patel has spent his career building the opposite of a conversion machine. Four years educating patients before he quoted a number. A practice grown 300% from a single surgery. Two sabbaticals — one solo, one with his family around the world. And a sale that taught him more about letting go than about money. In this conversation: — The four types of luck, and why staying in your lane beats comparison — Why he walked away from dentistry for three months after 20 years — and how he set it up — The one-line change from a treatment coordinator that added £250,000 in six months — "Sameer's hour" — the Monday morning meeting that killed the firefighting — Financial Freedom Figure: the six-month runway every dentist should build first — Why the best practice owners are generalists, not specialists — Educate, don't sell — and why price objections are a connection problem — Passing the baton: what he learned selling the practice he built Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Four Types of Luck & Staying In Your Lane 00:03:22 The 2017 Sabbatical: Finding True North After 20 Years 00:13:58 The Six-Month Family Sabbatical: Creating Memory Dividends 00:21:06 Building Resilient Kids: Comfort Crisis vs Mental Toughness 00:25:04 The C Student Advantage: Why Generalists Build Great Practices 00:32:16 Curiosity as a Superpower: Learning From Winners Early 00:33:59 The 1% Rule: Marginal Gains & Working With Your Spouse 00:41:22 Fear vs Potential: Why Most People Don't Fulfill Their Dreams 00:46:44 Financial Freedom Figure: The Six-Month Runway Strategy 00:51:02 Sorry is a Beautiful Word: Building Psychological Safety 00:53:42 The £250K Orthodontic Insight: Listening to Your Team 01:00:39 Sameer's Hour: The Monday Morning Game-Changer 01:01:27 Retaining Staff Post-Brexit: Building a Basement for Wellness 01:11:51 Educate, Don't Sell: The Nobody Asks The Price Philosophy 01:16:33 The Sale of 11: From Valuation Shock to Five-Year Workout 01:25:11 The New Way to Sell: Late 40s Exit, Associate Life, Compound Growth 01:28:21 Elite Dental Leadership: Helping the Next Generation Make Fewer Mistakes ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Sameer Patel - dental leadership educator, practice builder and investor. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard - Past-President of the BACD. Co-founder of PÄRLA. Owner of Rothley Lodge. Host of Contact Point. ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ BARCLAYS: Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare' online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. Instagram: instagram.com/contactpointpodcast/ Listen: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033ieLfQjL338jE8TS8GcV Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contact-point-podcast/id1896809084 #ContactPoint #Dentistry #DentalPractice #PracticeOwner #DentalLeadership #UKDentist #DentalBusiness #Podcast
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July 27 · 1 hr 47 min
Are Dentists Over-Treating Patients? Martin Wanendeya On Implants, Ethics & 22 Years Of Ten Dental.
Is the dental profession over-treating patients? Martin Wanendeya has spent 22 years building Ten Dental into one of the UK's most respected implant practices — and he has a pointed view on where full-arch dentistry is heading. Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard. In this conversation: Martin joins Simon to trace the journey from a squat practice in 2004 to a multi-site implant referral centre - surviving the 2008 crash, a 22-year business partnership he compares to a marriage, and the discipline of building a clinical culture. At the heart of the episode is an honest, contrarian argument about the ethics of full-arch treatment planning: when implants are the right answer, when they're not, and why the best surgeons know when to walk away. They also go deep on the digital and AI workflow shaping the next decade of implant dentistry. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Full-Arch Ethics Question & 22 Years of Partnership 00:01:25 Starting Ten Dental: The 2004 Squat Practice Journey 00:04:57 The Power of Partnership: What Makes 22 Years Work 00:07:10 Surviving the 2008 Financial Crisis: Lessons in Resilience 00:10:29 Building Culture from Scratch: The Blank Slate Advantage 00:16:51 Attracting Top Dentists: Tom Elliott, Mide Ojo & The Team 00:20:28 Self-Critique: The Most Important Characteristic for Excellence 00:21:11 Marketing Strategy: Tube Ads, Instagram & Promoting Your Team 00:26:59 Design Philosophy: Typography, Graphics & The Five-Changer DVD 00:34:43 The Implant Journey: From Restorative to Surgery 00:40:51 Advice for Young Implant Dentists: Start with Restoration 00:46:41 Managing Surgical Stress: Planning, Pausing & Plan B 00:55:27 The Digital Revolution: PrimeScan, SprintRay & Printed Provisionals 01:23:43 Software Ecosystem: DS Core, SmileCloud, BiteFinder & Diagnocat 01:14:20 FP1 vs FP3: The Full-Arch Ethics Debate 01:15:54 Implants Are Not Teeth Replacements: They're No-Teeth Replacements 01:02:40 Early Adoption Risks: Bleeding Edge vs Cutting Edge 01:35:31 The Future: Dental MRIs, Robotics & Decontamination Automation 01:38:13 Breaking Down Silos: The Fight for Open Dental Software 01:44:30 Chicago Lab Day & Product Development: Contributing to Innovation ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Martin Wanendeya - co-founder of Ten Dental, implant and full-arch surgeon, and a long-standing figure in UK cosmetic and implant dentistry. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is a multi-award-winning cosmetic dentist, co-founder of PÄRLA, and Past President of the BACD. Through Contact Point he explores the ideas, people and technology shaping the next decade of dentistry. ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ BARCLAYS: Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare' online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬ FOLLOW ▬▬ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ContactPointPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033ieLfQjL338jE8TS8GcV?si=jBJmAJDeTaaQyPfmP1W81A Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contact-point-podcast/id1896809084 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contactpointpodcast/ #Dentistry #DentalImplants #FullArch #ImplantDentistry #DigitalDentistry #DentalPodcast #Prosthodontics #ContactPoint
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July 20 · 1 hr 43 min
"Saliva Is Just As Important As Blood": Victoria Sampson On The Oral Microbiome Revolution.
Could your saliva reveal more about your health than your blood? Victoria Sampson has spent years proving the mouth is a diagnostic goldmine - and dentistry is only just catching up. Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard. In this conversation: Victoria Sampson joins Simon to unpack the oral microbiome, saliva testing, and the growing evidence linking gum health to over 50 systemic conditions - from Alzheimer's and colorectal cancer to fertility and heart disease. They get into the COVID-19 paper that put her on the map, the reality of building a saliva-testing company, why bad breath is usually a gut problem, and an honest reflection on the highs and lows of taking dental science to a mainstream audience. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Podcast Backlash & Finding Balance 00:02:22 The COVID-19 Paper That Changed Everything 00:07:42 What Actually Is The Oral Microbiome? 00:15:37 The Three Mechanisms: How Oral Bacteria Affect Your Whole Body 00:19:23 Why Previous Oral Microbiome Testing Failed 00:21:24 Inside Oralis One: How The Test Actually Works 00:51:31 The Clinical Protocol: From Test to Treatment Plan 01:03:49 Inflammation vs Bacteria: Rethinking Periodontal Disease 00:22:45 The Heavy Hitters: Alzheimer's, Colorectal Cancer & Women's Health 01:19:21 Functional Dentistry: Blood Tests, Nutrition & The Health Society Model 00:36:39 Podcast Aftermath: Trolls, Cancelled Talks & Finding Strength 00:48:31 The Innovation Problem: Why UK Dentistry Resists Change 01:26:55 From Lemonade Stands to Lawsuits: The Entrepreneurial Journey 01:36:18 Working With Family: Running The Health Society With Sister & Mum 01:41:03 The Next Decade: Saliva Testing For Systemic Disease Detection ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Victoria Sampson - researcher and clinician working at the intersection of the oral microbiome, saliva diagnostics and systemic health. Author of one of the most-cited British Dental Journal papers on the link between COVID-19 and periodontal disease, and founder of THS Labs UK & The Health Society. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is a multi-award-winning cosmetic dentist, co-founder of PÄRLA, and Past President of the BACD. Through Contact Point he explores the ideas, people and technology shaping the next decade of dentistry. ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSOR ▬▬ Barclays Business Banking: Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare' online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬ FOLLOW ▬▬ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ContactPointPodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033ieLfQjL338jE8TS8GcV?si=jBJmAJDeTaaQyPfmP1W81A Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contact-point-podcast/id1896809084 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contactpointpodcast/ #Dentistry #OralMicrobiome #SalivaTesting #Periodontal #Longevity #PreventativeHealth #DentalPodcast #OralHealth
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July 13 · 1 hr 39 min
They Nearly Took Our Houses: Payman Langroudi On Building Enlighten
He nearly lost his house keeping the business alive. 25 years later, Enlighten is a household name in dentistry. Payman Langroudi joins Dr Simon Chard on Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade. In this conversation: Payman Langroudi - founder of Enlighten - sits down with Simon for a wide-ranging conversation on building a dental brand over 25 years, the cash crises that nearly ended it, and what it really takes to survive and scale. They get into the moment the bank threatened to pull the plug, being "destroyed" by a new generation of consumer brands, the artist-versus-businessman tension every clinician faces, and Payman's philosophy on responsibility, legacy and living life to the full. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Houses on the Line Story 00:00:20 From One Small Change to Contact Point: The Podcast Evolution 00:03:00 360 Episodes and Three Legends Lost: The Power of Recording Stories 00:05:45 The Cliches Are All True: Key Learnings from Hundreds of Interviews 00:07:58 Work-Life Balance is About Blurring the Lines 00:08:47 Family vs Pro Sports Team: Building Culture at Enlighten 00:12:02 Nikki's 40-Year Career: The Value of Long-Term Team Members 00:13:37 Relationships: The Only Thing in Both Health and Fulfillment 00:17:10 The Clinical Director Should Be the Youngest Dentist 00:18:31 What Makes the Best Practices Different 00:21:41 The Artist vs The Businessman: Christian Coachman's Three-Star Question 00:22:53 The Responsibility of What's at Your Disposal 00:24:27 25 Years of Risk: Why Payman Hasn't Sold Enlighten Yet 00:36:23 Curiosity Over Money: What Really Drives Entrepreneurs 00:40:06 The Mechanics of Business Models: Why Subscriptions Win 00:41:14 Why Dentistry is an Unbelievable Business Model 00:43:35 Five Years Until Robots in Every Practice 00:47:42 Every Patient Gets a Scan: Simon's iTero Strategy 00:49:46 Meta AI Glasses and the Future of Patient Communication 00:52:59 Tech That Actually Works: Patient Experience Innovation 00:55:02 No One's Better at Being You Than You Are 00:56:55 B2B vs B2C Marketing: The Attention Game 00:28:18 The £80,000 Gamble: Enlighten's Near-Death Experience 00:31:19 The Best Show They Ever Had: Survival at the Dentistry Show 00:33:41 From £5,000 to £20,000 a Day: Scaling Through Fear 00:34:35 39 People and Keeping Culture: The Challenge of Growth 01:22:03 Partnership Philosophy: Blood Brothers vs Board Meetings 01:26:22 Winning £200,000: The Sky Footprint Fund Story 01:28:08 When 30,000 Units Go Wrong: The Lows of Product Business 01:30:22 Every Person I Fired Didn't Deserve It: Leadership Lessons from Ophir 01:31:08 You Serve Them, They Don't Serve You 01:09:22 The Soul Question: What Stays the Same from 2 to 80 01:12:16 Good vs Bad: Why Payman Asks About God 01:17:52 Six Wars in One Lifetime: Religion, Conflict, and Iran 01:20:04 The Universe at Sunday Roast: Teaching Kids Gratitude 01:21:13 Where Does All That Wood Come From: The Mystery of Trees 01:32:56 The Next Decade: Robots, Patient Experience, and Sexy Oral Care 01:34:12 Why Isn't Going to the Dentist Fun Yet 01:34:58 From Toothpaste to Cosmetics: The £120 Cream Question 01:36:19 If You Could Put Any Brand on Your Tube: The Evian Effect ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Payman Langroudi is the founder of Enlighten, one of the most recognised teeth-whitening systems in UK dentistry. Over 25 years he has built and scaled the business through multiple recessions and near-death cash crises. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is a multi-award-winning cosmetic dentist, co-founder of PÄRLA, and past President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Contact Point is his long-form interview show exploring the next decade of dentistry. ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Barclays - Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare' online. Terms and conditions apply. All lending is subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬ FOLLOW ▬▬ YouTube: @ContactPointPodcast Spotify / Apple Podcasts "Contact Point Podcast" ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard Produced by Sone Productions #Dentistry #DentalPodcast #Enlighten #TeethWhitening #DentalBusiness #ContactPoint
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July 6 · 2 hr 35 min
Quality Dentistry Doesn't Scale: Christian Coachman On The Michelin-Star Mindset.
Christian Coachman has spent his career convincing dentists to embrace technology. Now he's telling them the opposite. What if the most profitable move in dentistry - scaling - is the one thing quietly killing your craft? Christian Coachman joins Dr Simon Chard for a wide-ranging conversation on artistry, diagnosis, and what actually matters over a lifetime of care. In this conversation: – Why quality dentistry can't be scaled - and the "three-star Michelin dentist" choice every clinician eventually faces – The "oral physician" - moving from execution to diagnosis, planning and presentation – Why we're brilliant at fixing problems and terrible at preventing them – The "last 10 years of your life" as a framework for every clinical decision – Charisma, cause, and vehicle: the art of making patients bet on you – Comfort with uncertainty, and why certainty is the enemy of good medicine Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Michelin-Star Dentist Philosophy 00:01:00 13 Years of Digital Dentistry: From Technology Evangelism to Balance 00:02:56 The Three-Star Michelin Question: What Kind of Dentist Do You Want to Be? 00:06:22 Quality Doesn't Scale: The Gordon Ramsay Dilemma 00:09:45 The Gold Standard vs The Growth Trap 00:20:38 The Mexican Fisherman Story: Redefining Success 00:28:02 Saying No to Opportunities: Focus Over Everything 00:32:53 The Unteachable Lesson: Money, Peace & Proving Something 00:35:52 Balance is BS: The Truth About Going All In 00:41:59 Execution Over Ideas: The Implementation Gap 00:47:50 The Dark Night: Christian's Depression at 30 00:52:50 Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously: The Path to Peace 00:58:00 Technology's True Purpose: Diagnose, Plan, Present 00:59:22 The Five Phases of Dentistry: Where We're Failing 01:02:50 The Architect vs The Builder: Why Planning Matters More 01:04:46 The Exploration Phase: Becoming a Super Diagnostician 01:07:10 Dentistry's Fragmentation Problem: Ortho, Restorative & The Whole Body 01:10:27 Evidence-Based Arrogance: The 5% We Actually Know 01:14:12 Strong Opinions Loosely Held: Confident Humility 01:29:21 The Super Generalist: Above the Specialist 01:31:25 Reinventing the First Appointment: The Exploration Gold Standard 01:37:55 The Last 10 Years of Your Life: Dentistry's True Impact 01:44:53 Aesthetics Shouldn't Be the Priority: Natural Beauty vs Perfection 01:50:24 Airway First: Function-Driven Aesthetics 01:52:46 The Art of Storytelling: Making People Bet on You 02:00:12 Charisma, Cause & Vehicle: The Three Components of Movement 02:09:00 Your Systems Are Your Vehicle: Showing Patients the Process 02:16:55 Black Box Thinking: Quality Control in Dentistry 02:23:40 The Try-In Trap: Catching Mistakes Earlier 02:29:49 The Future: Super Diagnosticians & Three-Star Michelin Artists 02:32:44 Human Skills Over Technology: The Real Differentiation ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ This episode is supported by Barclays. Running a healthcare business isn't simple - different income models, complex regulations, real-world pressure. Barclays backs UK healthcare professionals with a dedicated Relationship Management team and finance built to help you manage cashflow, invest and grow. Search 'Barclays Business Healthcare'. T&Cs apply; all lending subject to application, status and eligibility. ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ Instagram: @contactpointpodcast Spotify / Apple Podcasts : "Contact Point Podcast" ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Produced by Sone Studios. #Dentistry #DigitalSmileDesign #DentalPodcast #OralHealth #CosmeticDentistry #DentistryPodcast #DrSimonChard #ContactPoint #DentalProfessionals #LongevityDentistry
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June 29 · 1 hr 11 min
A Quarter Of Your Calls Go Unanswered: India Healy O'Connor On AI In Dentistry
She left Goldman Sachs to build an AI that answers your clinic's phone. A quarter of patient calls go unanswered - India thinks that's a solved problem. Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade, hosted by Dr Simon Chard. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: From Goldman Sachs to Dental AI 00:06:07 The Entrepreneurial Spark: Fashion Shows to Fintech 00:09:07 The Birth of Linda: A Family Practice Problem 00:10:11 Raising 2.6 Million: The Fundraising Playbook 00:18:56 AI-Powered Operations: Claude, Whisper & Team Efficiency 00:23:11 Meet Linda: The AI Receptionist Explained 00:38:34 The Live Demo: Calling Linda in Real Time 00:59:59 Product Quality vs Speed: Defending Against Competition 00:49:35 The Job Loss Question: AI as Enhancement Not Replacement 01:08:20 The Next Decade: AI Search, Dental Robotics & The Future In this conversation: Simon sits down with India Healy O'Connor, co-founder and CEO of Linda AI, to unpack how a former Goldman Sachs trader ended up building agentic voice AI for dental clinics. They get into why ~25% of clinic calls go unanswered, how Linda was first trialled in her dad's healthcare clinic, why dentistry turned out to be the perfect end-to-end use case, and what patient-facing AI means for the next five years of dental practice. ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ India Healy O'Connor is co-founder and CEO of Linda AI, an agentic voice platform built to answer patient calls, manage bookings and handle front-desk admin for dental clinics. A former Goldman Sachs sales and trading professional, she previously co-founded fintech startup Xelda and AI medical scribe Curie alongside her sister and co-founder Portia Healy O'Connor, before raising a pre-seed round for Linda. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is a multi-award-winning cosmetic dentist, co-founder of Pärla, and past President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. On Contact Point, he sits down with the people shaping the next decade of dentistry. ▬▬ FOLLOW ▬▬ YouTube: @ContactPointPodcast Instagram: @contactpoint.podcast Spotify & Apple Podcasts: Contact Point Podcast #dentistry #dentalAI #AIvoiceagent #dentalpractice #ContactPoint #dentalpodcast #practicemanagement #dentaltech #femalefounder #healthtech
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June 25 · 12 min
Why Public Speaking Is a Dentist's Superpower | Dr Mehy Lo Presti | Straight to the Point
Most dentists think public speaking means standing in front of 5,000 people. It doesn't. It means communicating - and it might be the most underrated skill in the profession. This is a highlight from our full conversation with Dr Mehy Lo Presti on Contact Point. In this clip: - Why public speaking is really just communication - and why it changes how you treat one patient - The maths of reach: speak to 100 people in one hour, or one-by-one over years - Why clinicians who can't present get passed over, however good they are - Simon on going from frozen at his own 18th birthday to a thousand-person room - How to actually start: your team, your local school, get the reps in 🎧 Watch the full episode: YouTube - https://youtu.be/H1tMgikkjnc Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WJzMVlo2qTxafdsT4ylWN?si=5AaUvXx0QqGzapGt-bMYWg Apple Music - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tinder-effect-is-killing-your-practice-dr-mehy-lo/id1896809084?i=1000769436898 ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ This episode is supported by partners helping shape the next decade of dentistry. Vvardis - Curodont Repair. 👉 professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring - exclusive starter kit discount. 👉 dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dr Mehy Lo Presti - restorative dentist and prosthodontist in London, and the producer behind one of dentistry's most ambitious live event and education projects. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard - Past-President of the BACD, co-founder of PÄRLA, and principal at Rothley Lodge Dental Practice. Contact Point is dentistry's next decade, one conversation at a time. #Dentistry #PublicSpeaking #ContactPoint #DentalPodcast #DrSimonChard
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June 23 · 1 hr 48 min
"In a Way, I'm Anti-Toothpaste": Dr James Goolnik On Fixing the Root Cause
Dr James Goolnik on the mouth-body connection, why most dentistry treats the symptom instead of the cause, and what to actually look for on a toothpaste label. New episodes every week. The long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade - hosted by Dr Simon Chard. This episode: Dr James Goolnik - founder of Optimal Dental Health, author of Kick Sugar, and one of the most thought-provoking voices on functional, root-cause dentistry. In this conversation: why he left a 24-year practice to start again, the truth about biohacking and the £300 gadget he used once, the four things every dentist should be asking about (sleep, movement, stress, food), why you should test your own vitamin D before your patients', what saliva microbiome testing can really tell us, the root canal myth that won't die, and the fluoride debate that gets him in the most trouble with the profession. ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dr James Goolnik is the founder of Optimal Dental Health on Baker Street, a practice built around the mouth-body connection. He previously founded the City of London practice Bow Lane Dental, is the author of the cookbook Kick Sugar, and is completing a graduate diploma in functional nutrition. He lectures widely at health, longevity and wellness summits on making oral health more accessible. Find James: https://www.instagram.com/optimaldentalhealth/ https://www.instagram.com/jamesgoolnik/ ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge Dental, and host of Contact Point. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Vvardis - Curodont Repair A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or even reverse early carious lesions, meaning patients can avoid the filling they don't want. Easy to apply, suitable for all age groups, and a genuine step change in minimally invasive care. → 10% off your first case at professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Monitor compliance, hygiene, and aligner progression remotely - far better care with far fewer appointments. → Special discount off your starter kit at dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard Guest: Dr James Goolnik #dentistry #ukdentists #dentalpodcast #contactpoint #drsimonchard #mouthbodyconnection #functionaldentistry #nutrition
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June 18 · 10 min
Straight To The Point: The 3 Signs Every Dentist Is Missing In Kids | Dr Steffen Decker
The orthodontist who stopped chasing straight teeth and started asking why they're crooked in the first place. In this week's Cross Section, Dr Steffen Decker gives every dentist the three things they can actually do on from tomorrow morning to spot the kids who are slipping through the net. New moments every Thursday. This is a highlight from our full conversation with Dr Steffen Decker on Contact Point - the long-form podcast defining dentistry's next decade, hosted by Dr Simon Chard. In this clip: why teeth are a symptom and not the problem, how to screen a child for sleep-disordered breathing without diagnosing, the red flags that should trigger a referral (venous pooling, night terrors, mouth breathing), why tongue-tie is only a small part of the picture, and why dentists are one of the only professionals who see these children regularly enough to catch it. 🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YYiawP2dDqaTvPFXDJPqn?si=XG0LBAv3TaKanijdno5SkQ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contact-point-podcast/id1896809084 YouTube: https://youtu.be/_BeYi1RAJt0 ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ This episode is brought to you by: Vvardis - Curodont Repair → professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring → dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dr Steffen Decker is an orthodontist specialising in airway, paediatric sleep-disordered breathing and early interceptive treatment. Trained in Germany and Switzerland and formerly a leading lingual orthodontist in Harley Street, he now runs a prevention-focused clinic and teaching academy and lectures internationally. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge Dental, and host of Contact Point. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast #dentistry #ukdentists #dentalpodcast #contactpoint #drsimonchard #orthodontics #airway #paediatricdentistry #sleepdisorderedbreathing #earlyintervention
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June 16 · 2 hr 19 min
We Were Treating The Wrong Thing The Whole Time: Dr Steffen Decker On Why Airway Changes Everything
The orthodontist who stopped chasing straight teeth and started asking why they were crooked in the first place. Steffen Decker on airway, sleep-disordered breathing, and the three things every parent and dentist should be checking in children. New episodes every Monday. The long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade - hosted by Dr Simon Chard. This episode: Dr Steffen Decker - orthodontist, airway and paediatric sleep-disordered-breathing educator, and one of the most passionate voices in the field. In this conversation: why "airway" is the wrong word and what to say instead, how teeth are a downstream symptom of breathing, the three functional signs in any child (lips, tongue, nose), why screening by age seven matters, what the evidence really says about expansion, the cost-of-care problem nobody talks about, and the three things a dentist can start doing from today. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:29 Why Airway Was Always on the List: Stefan's Journey 00:01:58 From Lingual Orthodontics to Sleep Disorder Breathing 00:04:47 The Lockdown Revelation: Connecting Kids to Adults 00:25:45 The Personal Story: When Your Own Child Can't Breathe 00:56:39 The Parking Space Analogy: Understanding Tongue Position 00:32:00 The Down Syndrome Success Story: Beyond Teeth 01:43:16 Screening Tools: The 14-Point Assessment Every Dentist Needs 01:05:31 The Orthodontic Controversy: Extraction vs Expansion 01:29:49 Class III Cases: Genetics or Epigenetics? 01:33:31 Cephalometric Flaws: Why Static Data Fails Us 01:07:59 Retention Reality: Why Teeth Stay Straight in Kids 01:42:17 Adult Solutions: MARPE, DOME, and Surgical Options 01:18:36 The Barrel Metaphor: Why Modern Life Is Drowning Our Kids 01:22:16 The Body Worker Team: Who You Need in Your Network 01:23:26 The Cost of Prevention vs Compensation 02:15:06 Technology and AI: The Future of Myofunctional Therapy 02:16:24 The Social Media Trap: Why Bonding Isn't the Future 02:10:11 The Punjab Lesson: Ancient Wisdom We Forgot 01:51:36 Final Message: Opportunities Over Fear ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dr Steffen Decker is an orthodontist specialising in airway, paediatric sleep-disordered breathing and early interceptive treatment. Trained in Germany and Switzerland and formerly a leading lingual orthodontist in Harley Street, he now runs a prevention-focused clinic and teaching academy, and lectures internationally on the link between breathing, sleep and craniofacial development. Find Steffen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-steffen-decker/ https://www.instagram.com/theorthodonticspecialist/?hl=en-gb ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge Dental, and host of Contact Point. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Vvardis - Curodont Repair A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or even reverse early carious lesions, meaning patients can avoid the filling they don't want. Easy to apply, suitable for all age groups, and a genuine step change in minimally invasive care. → 10% off your first case at professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Monitor compliance, hygiene, and aligner progression remotely - far better care with far fewer appointments. → Special discount off your starter kit at dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard Guest: Dr Steffen Decker #dentistry #ukdentists #dentalpodcast #contactpoint #drsimonchard #orthodontics #airway #sleepdisorderedbreathing
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June 8 · 1 hr 48 min
Comfort Is Killing You: Dr Richard Porter On Why The Hardest Things Are What Make Life Worth Living
The restorative consultant who studies psychology, mortality and Stoic philosophy as seriously as he studies teeth - on why we're all wearing a mask, why comfort is quietly making us worse, and how to tell which of your desires are even yours. New episodes every Monday. The long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade - hosted by Dr Simon Chard. This episode: Dr Richard Porter - restorative consultant, founder of Aspire Dental Academy, postgraduate scholar in psychology, and one of dentistry's most original thinkers on human flourishing. In this conversation: why every professional wears a "persona" and what hostility really reveals, the fundamental attribution error and how it shows up with patients, mimetic desire and the borrowed wants driving most of our anxiety, what dying patients consistently say matters most, the six pillars of health, the truth about supplements and statins, fluoride and minimally invasive care, and why the future of dentistry belongs to human connection. ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dr Richard Porter is a restorative consultant and the founder of Aspire Dental Academy, where he has trained dentists for 15 years. Alongside clinical and teaching work he is a postgraduate scholar in psychology and a leading voice on emotional intelligence, preventative health and human flourishing in dentistry. Find Richard: @AspireDentalAcademy ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge Dental, and host of Contact Point. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Vvardis — Curodont Repair A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or even reverse early carious lesions, meaning patients can avoid the filling they don't want. Easy to apply, suitable for all age groups, and a genuine step change in minimally invasive care. → 10% off your first case at professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Monitor compliance, hygiene, and aligner progression remotely - far better care with far fewer appointments. → Special discount off your starter kit at dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard Guest: Dr Richard Porter Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Human Flourishing & The Power of Prevention 00:00:16 The Red Trousers Memory & 14 Years of Shared Values 00:01:59 Professional Identity: From Consultant to Human Flourishing Advocate 00:03:53 The Suffering Dentist: Emotional Intelligence & Professional Stress 00:06:59 Knowing Yourself: The Shadow Self & Emotional Awareness 00:10:03 Memento Mori: Life Is Short & The 11-Year-Old's Lesson 00:11:48 Fear of Death vs Fear of Not Feeling Alive 00:18:04 The Comfort Crisis: Why Discomfort Drives Growth 00:21:36 Mimetic Desire: Are Your Goals Really Yours? 00:27:25 The Deathbed Test: Clarity From Life's End 00:29:44 Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Challenges: Stoicism & Daily Practice 00:31:02 Health Foundations: The Non-Negotiable Morning Workout 00:39:49 Exercise Protocol: Zone 2, HIIT & Strength Training 00:43:14 Sleep, Supplements & The Big Three: Vitamin D, Omega-3 & Magnesium 00:45:15 Mitochondrial Medicine: NAD+, Cold Exposure & Energy Optimization 00:48:58 The Cholesterol Controversy: Beyond Good vs Bad 00:45:54 Testosterone Crisis: The Declining Male Hormone Epidemic 00:58:20 Functional Medicine: Root Causes Over Symptom Management 00:38:40 The Parent Modeling Effect: Teaching Through Action 00:00:08 Life Is Emotion: Faith in Humanity & The Path Forward #dentistry #ukdentists #dentalpodcast #contactpoint #drsimonchard #aspiredental #emotionalintelligence #humanflourishing #preventativehealth #functionalmedicine #stoicism #mentalhealth #patientexperience #vvardis #dentalmonitoring
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June 1 · 2 hr 12 min
I Bought 120 Dental Practices - Here's What Actually Adds Value: Andy Sloan On Selling & Systems
The man who bought 120 dental practices on what actually makes one worth buying - and why being the "key person" in your own practice is quietly destroying its value. New episodes every Monday. The long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade - hosted by Dr Simon Chard. This episode: Andy Sloan - former MD of Agilio, ex-Henry Schein and Portman, and the man who led the team that acquired 120+ practices in three years. In this conversation: why you must be dispensable in your own business, the three things that make a practice acquirable, what investors really look for under the hood, how recurring revenue can add a full turn or two to your multiple, where EBITDA multiples actually sit right now, why the CMA is coming for dentistry, and why bolting AI onto bad data just amplifies the chaos. ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Andy Sloan has spent 15+ years in dentistry - at Henry Schein, in business development at Portman during its major growth phase, and most recently as Managing Director of Agilio. He led the team that acquired 120+ dental practices in three years and now advises founders, groups and DSOs on building well-governed, exit-ready businesses. He's behind the forthcoming Operational Maturity Index and writes as The Accidental Dental Strategist. Find Andy: linkedin.com/in/andysloanned ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge Dental, and host of Contact Point. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Vvardis - Curodont Repair A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or even reverse early carious lesions, meaning patients can avoid the filling they don't want. Easy to apply, suitable for all age groups, and a genuine step change in minimally invasive care. → 10% off your first case at www.professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Monitor compliance, hygiene, and aligner progression remotely — far better care with far fewer appointments. A real USP for practices running aligner workflows. → Special discount off your starter kit at www.dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard Guest: Andy Sloan #dentistry #ukdentists #dentalpodcast #contactpoint #drsimonchard #agilio #practiceowner #dentalbusiness #practicevaluation #privateequity #dentalpe #aidentistry #exitstrategy #recurringrevenue #dentalgroups Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Accidental Dental Strategist 00:02:08 From Hospitality to Healthcare: An Unexpected Path 00:10:00 The Reality of Practice Acquisitions: 120 Practices & Beyond 00:25:12 What Actually Adds Value: Beyond EBITDA Multiples 00:40:00 The Hidden Infrastructure: Data, Systems & Operational Maturity 00:50:00 Membership Plans & Recurring Revenue: The 50% Rule 01:00:00 AI Strategy: Foundation Before Innovation 01:25:00 The Changing Face of Acquisitions: New Models & Valuations 01:29:10 The CMA Investigation & Future of Private Dentistry 01:45:00 The Next Decade: Robotics, AI & The Human Touch
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May 25 · 1 hr 43 min
All Dentistry Fails: Lincoln Harris On Skill, Stress & The Next Decade of the Profession
Lincoln Harris built a dental practice next to a beach in Queensland - then gave it up to build an AI-powered education company from scratch. He joins Simon Chard to talk courage, clinical stress, dental training, and where the profession goes next. ▶ Subscribe for a new episode every Monday. Lincoln Harris is one of dentistry's most candid voices on skill, fear and the realities of a clinical career. In this wide-ranging conversation he and Simon get into why confidence is built on the other side of fear, why your first five years feel the way they do, what the best dental schools in the world do differently, what dentistry can learn from aviation, and how AI and robotics will reshape the next decade of clinical work. About the guest Lincoln Harris is a dentist and the founder of Ripe Global, an AI-powered, simulation-based dental education platform now teaching in 35 countries. Originally from Queensland, Australia, where he ran his own multidisciplinary practice, he's now based in Colorado. Instagram: @drlincolnharris / @ripeglobal · LinkedIn: Dr Lincoln Harris / Ripe Global · ripeglobal.com Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Beach Practice Dream & The Big Move 00:02:36 Why Leave Paradise? The Decision to Move to America 00:07:37 Starting Ripe Global: Naive Optimism During COVID 00:10:54 Building the Simulation Protocol: Innovation Through Necessity 00:12:54 The Journey from Dentist to CEO: Raising Capital & Moving Forward 00:15:00 What Made Lincoln the Right Person for This Mission 00:17:34 Confidence vs Courage: Overcoming Fear in Dentistry 00:24:20 Leadership, Patient Communication & The Weight of Responsibility 00:28:32 The State of Dental Education Worldwide 00:39:24 Technical Skill vs Knowledge: What Dental Schools Get Wrong 00:48:22 Managing Stress & Fatigue: The Secret to Clinical Excellence 00:50:39 The Reality Check: Five Years to Stop Feeling Sick Going to Work 00:53:25 Why Dentists Should See a Psychologist & The Power of Breathing 01:05:07 Life After Clinical Practice: The Transition to Full-Time CEO 01:10:46 The Brutal Truth About CEO Income vs Clinical Income 00:45:42 All Dentistry Fails: Accepting Failure & Building Credibility 01:21:31 The Next Decade: AI, Robotics & The Future of Dentistry 01:32:53 Why Communication Can't Be Taught Online (Yet) 01:40:16 Competence Will Always Be in Fashion Episode sponsors Vvardis - Curodont Repair A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or even reverse early carious lesions, meaning patients can avoid the filling they don't want. Easy to apply, suitable for all age groups, and a genuine step change in minimally invasive care. → 10% off your first case at professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint DENTAL MONITORING AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Monitor compliance, hygiene, and aligner progression remotely — far better care with far fewer appointments. A real USP for practices running aligner workflows. → Special discount off your starter kit at dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint Follow Contact Point Instagram: @contactpointpodcast · YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Hosted by Dr Simon Chard - President of the BACD, co-founder of PÄRLA, principal of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice. Contact Point - Dentistry's Next Decade. #ContactPoint #Dentistry #DentalEducation #DentalPodcast #FutureOfDentistry
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May 18 · 1 hr 38 min
The Tinder Effect Is Killing Your Practice: Dr Mehy Lo Presti On The Future Patient Experience.
Sugar is 10× more addictive than cocaine - and dentistry is just starting to admit it. Dr Mehy Lo Presti joins Dr Simon Chard for episode one of Contact Point: the long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade. Dr Mehy Lo Presti is a restorative dentist and prosthodontist, and one of the most considered voices on how AI, holistic clinical philosophy, and patient experience design are reshaping the chair. In this episode: · How AI is already saving clinicians hours every day · Why the tooth → whole mouth → whole body shift changes everything · The "Tinder Effect" — when marketing catfishes the patient · The peak-end rule and why patients only remember two moments · Become the AI expert before your job disappears · What the future of dental education actually looks like EPISODE SPONSORS Vvardis - Curodont Repair. A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or reverse early carious lesions, helping patients avoid the filling they don't want. 10% off your first case at professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring — AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Far better care with far fewer appointments. Special discount off your starter kit at dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint Follow: @contactpointpodcast on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard.
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May 18 · 13 min
There's Never Been A More Exciting Time To Be A Dentist: Introducing Contact Point
Welcome to Contact Point - the long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade. Hosted by Dr Simon Chard. New episodes every Monday. Subscribe. In this introduction, Dr Simon Chard sets out what Contact Point is for, who it's built for, and the three ideas that shape every episode. From Seneca to Silicon Valley - direction, adaptability, and the courage to hold strong opinions loosely. This is the only podcast that takes UK dentistry as seriously as you do. ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is a cosmetic dentist, President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge, and host of Contact Point. Previously the host of One Small Change. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast ▬▬ GUEST REQUESTS ▬▬ Got someone you want to hear on the show? DM @contactpointpodcast on Instagram. ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard #contactpoint #drsimonchard #dentistry #ukdentistry #dentalpodcast #podcastlaunch #aidentistry #practiceowner #cosmeticdentistry #BACD
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