Welcome back to conversations with Dental Friends this week I’m chatting to Aaron Stewart about how as a newly qualified Dental Nurse you can stretch out your scope with further learning to give your day to day more fulfilment and interest. Additionally we also chat about the application process for Dental Hygiene/Dental Therapy so this is a brilliant touch point if you’re also heading down a similar path.

Thankyou so much Aaron for such a brilliant episode and for being such a supporter of the pod!

Thank-you so much as always to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this episode

If you’re interested in dental nursing you can find out some more info on how to apply here

If you want to explore some further learning within dental nursing you can check out Aaron’s recommendation Smile Wisdom here or on the NIMDTA website here

If you’re thinking of becoming a dental hygienist or dental therapist you can find out more here

If you would like to listen to a bit more content about the application process on Rosie Murphy’s podcast episode which is episode 3 but if you haven’t listened to that already I can link it here as well

You can find Aaron on Instagram @oralhealthwithaaron you can follow Aaron’s practices @324ormeaudentalcare and @pastedental

Instagram is also the place to follow @conversationswithdentalfriends and myself Rachael @homegirlhygienist

I would absolutely love it if you enjoyed the episode if you could like, rate, comment, review and follow the podcast on Spotify as well

Thanks so much for listening!! See you next week for another episode!!

Hi and welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends! This week I’m joined by Naomi Bingham co-owner of Moira Cosmetic Dental where together with her husband Derek has built a brand with a strong aesthetic, strong team and high standards.

Thankyou so much to Naomi for being part of this episode and for being so open and honest about what it really takes to run your business.

Thankyou as always to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record our episode.

You can follow Moira Cosmetic Dental on Instagram @moiracosmeticdental to see more about what they’re all about

If you would like more information on becoming a dental nurse I’ll leave a link here

For more info on practice plan you can follow the link here

Sheila Scott putting health at the heart of your practice audiobook https://podcast.practiceplan.co.uk/e/audio-book-putting-health-at-the-heart-of-your-practice-full-book/

Joy Marsden Keep Stepping Forward https://www.amazon.co.uk/Keep-Stepping-Essential-Yourself-Challenge/dp/0993381405

You can find Chris Barrow on Instagram @coachbarrow

You can find Ashley Latter on Instagram @ashleylattertraining

You can find Laura Horton on Instagram @laurahorton1

You can find Michael Bentley here

You can find Colin Campbell’s blog here

Thankyou so much for listening you can find the pod over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me Rachael over there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week with another episode!

Welcome to Conversations with Dental Friends The go-to podcast for dental professionals looking to grow, innovate, and redefine their careers.

This is a little teaser episode ahead of what’s to come over the next few weeks to inspire your next steps within the dental industry.

“If you loved today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend in dentistry! Follow us on @conversationswithdentalfriends on Instagram for behind-the-scenes and updates.

Thankyou Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting me to record these episodes

You can find Joe Lovett on Instagram @joelovettcatalyst

Join the ADI here https://www.adi.org.uk

Become a member of BSDHT here https://www.bsdht.org.uk

Find more about FMC and dentistry.co.uk here https://dentistry.co.uk/shows/

For more information on Dürr Dental click here https://www.instagram.com/durr_dental_uk/?hl=en

Hi everybody welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends! This week I’m joined by an absolute dream come true guest for me Michaela O’Neill who has massively changed and shaped the world of dental hygiene as we know it today and if you don’t know already you’re about to find out why! This episode is great for you if you’re ready to feel inspired, not just in terms of dental hygiene but across the entire dental world, I hope you’re all as excited as I am!

As always Thankyou so much to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this episode in their beautiful patient area of the Hair Transplant suite.

As promised here are a few links if anything in today’s episode has sparked your interest

BSDHT membership—if you’re not already a member, now’s the time. There are so many opportunities to have your voice heard and make a real difference you can find out some more information here

EuroPerio—if you’re scheming to go (same here), I’ve popped a link with more info on what to expect here

Exemptions training—if that’s still on your to-do list, I’ve included a direct link to help you get started here

And finally, the Women’s Oral Health Roadshow—if you missed the Belfast date, don’t panic, there are still events happening across the UK here is the link

Thankyou so much I would love it if you could follow the podcast if you aren’t already, and if you can like, share or comment on the episode that would also be absolutely amazing!

You can follow both myself Rachael on Instagram @homegirlhygienist and Conversations with Dental Friends over on Instagram too @conversationswithdentalfriends

See you next week for another episode

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends this week I’m joined by Ursula Molloy who you’ll relate to if you’ve ever felt boxed in within your role as a dental therapist.

Ursula shares how she went from hygiene-only roles to working her full scope as a dental therapist with the right support, confidence, and a serious mindset shift.

Whether you’re a therapist ready to reclaim your clinical potential or a practice owner wanting to better integrate your team’s skills this one’s for you.

If you would like more information on Dr Naweed Mahmood’s course that Ursula’s mentioned around rubber dam and isolation I’ll leave the link here https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pastelive/1656541The course is taking place on the 24th May and if your lucky there might just be some last minute tickets still available

If you’re interested in Dr Monik Visants anterior and posterior composite course I’ll link that here too https://www.freshdentalinstitute.com/courses you can also find Dr Monik on Instagram @drmonik

If you would like more information on the BSDHT and how you can be a member you can find more information here and if you would like to attend one of our BSDHT study days here in NI you can find us on Instagram @bsdhtni

You can follow Ursula on Instagram @umdental_therapist as well if you want to see what she’s been getting up to

Thankyou so much to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this episode

You can find more information about upcoming episodes over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me Rachael over there @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode

Hello and Welcome back!

This week I’m chatting to Gemma Forsythe about how you can take dental nursing beyond the dental surgery and what an amazing and fulfilling career dental nursing really is.

If you’ve been inspired by Gemma you can catch up with her on Instagram @dentalnursegem

If you would like to see some of Gemma’s articles you can check them out here https://dentistry.co.uk/2024/01/02/im-a-qualified-dental-nurse-what-now/

For more information about the Irish and other Dentistry Shows in 2025 you can click here https://dentistry.co.uk/?s=Dentistry+show+

Thankyou so much to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting me to record this episode.

You can follow all things Conversations with Dental Friends pod on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me over on Instagram @homegirlhygienist

Thanks again to Gemma, see you next week for another episode!

Thank you so much to Niamh for joining me on today’s episode!

It was such a valuable conversation all about investing in yourself and levelling up as a dental therapist. Niamh shared some brilliant insights and practical tips that you won’t want to miss.

You can connect with Niamh over on Instagram: @nidentaltherapist

And if you’d like to explore the full Scope of Practice for dental therapists, you can find that here

Courses & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Modern Therapist Course by Cat Edney

Explore more here: https://www.the-modern-therapist.co.uk/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafG3MKQaYs8qmVEc5vluhgUIO0DzSS6hh8fxGn1UHfgmS2E8QgOfy2htYpSVA_aem_KW-k7_5RaZljUPv3nZbQuQ

Follow Cat on Instagram: @cat_londontherapist

CUSP Tips & Training by Michael Crilly

Course info and updates: @michaelcrilly_dental & @cusp_tips

Website: https://www.cusp.courses/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadNh9vEqypys38wxXOXFlE5QgYtZflFfsM6ltVfY2X7LSRg1Vl3tsMjj_P82Q_aem_wBRbyzhAQr15JK49dYlLIg

The Digital Therapist from Avant Garde Dentistry

More info: https://www.avantgardedentistry.co.uk

On Instagram: @drrobbiehughes / @emilyroscoe / @avantgardedentistry

The RESTORE Course

Register here: RESTORE Registration https://www.scottishdtnetwork.co.uk/restore?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae5GWZ68tRwlQv7plJMrznCdfuF5Lin47vSW2Ag4j_8882P5WN4VAbTnjx0dA_aem_-TqytIhm829cWD23qSRhWg

Follow for updates: @restore.dental.course / @laurenatcherrybank / @eiliduffy/@nina.integratedhealth

Courses by Ikigai Oral Hygiene (supported by NSK)

Check out: @ikigaioralhygiene

ADI Team Congress

Learn more and register: https://www.adi.org.uk/association_dental_implantology_congress/

* Ian Dunn’s Perio Course https://periocourses.co.uk/speaker/ian-dunn/

Stay Connected:

To join the Northern Ireland Dental Therapist WhatsApp group, reach out to @chloe_dental_therapist_ni

For the BSDHT BSP Oral Health Summit WhatsApp group, DM me @homegirlhygienist

Registration and info for the summit can be found here https://profile.eventsair.com/oral-health-summit-2025/

A huge thank you to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting today’s recording!

If you enjoyed the episode, I’d love it if you could like, share, follow, and leave a comment—it really helps the podcast grow.

You can find me Rachael on Instagram @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode!

Hi everyone and welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends! In the hot seat this week is Callum McCandless a Dentist who has a Special Interest in Oral Surgery and works between Marlborough Clinic a referral practice in Belfast and Fortwilliam Clinic which is part of Bupa.

Today Callum and I chat about how to find you path in Dentistry, how you can reignite your passion and joy for the job and maybe a thing or two about being an entrepreneur on the way as well!

Thankyou Callum for giving us such great insights in this episode!

Thankyou so much to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting me to record this episode.

If you would like to find out more about future oral surgery courses, the Marlborough Clinic conference or any other study clubs that are coming up in 2025 here is the link https://www.marlboroughclinicbelfast.com/marlborough-academy/

If you would like to find out more about Callum’s facial aesthetics business Refine here is the link https://refineaestheticsco.com

If you would like to find out a bit more about getting into property in Belfast or beyond I’ll leave some links here

@ni_propertygirl on Instagram

https://nipropertygirl.com

@belfastpropertymeet on Instagram

https://belfastpropertymeet.com

@dentalpropertyclub on Instagram

https://www.dentalpropertyclub.co.uk

Thankyou so much for listening, you can find a sneak peak of what’s coming up over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me there too @homegirlhygienist

See you again next week!

Welcome back! In this weeks episode we are having a chat with Penny Chapman, the Area Manager of Bupa Dental Care in Northern Ireland about how management looks in the corporate world of Dentistry and what that role might look like for you.

It was so interesting for me to discuss Dentistry from a management perspective and see those similarities that clinical and managerial roles share within the big dental bubble!

This is a great episode if you’re already in Dentistry looking to level up or if you’re in business looking to cross the dental divide.

To find out more about working within management with Bupa or just working with Bupa generally you can click here https://jobs.bupadentalcare.co.uk

Thankyou so much for listening have a great week! See you next time for another episode

Welcome back! In this episode I sit down with Rosie Murphy a Senior Dental Nurse at Gransha Dental Practice in Belfast.

Today we have a super important conversation about Dyslexia and Autism and how the impact on the clinical setting and how self belief and a supportive army of people around you really does mean you can achieve anything.

Huge thank-you to Rosie for being so open and honest I know she’s going to achieve big things!

Thank-you as always to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting me to record this episode.

For more information about dyslexia you can click the link here

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia

For more information on Autism you can click the link here

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism

To find out how you can apply to be a Dental Therapist you can click here for more information

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/dental-therapist

You can apply through UCAS but you can also apply to some Universities directly.

You can find all things Conversations with Dental Friends on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me over there too @homegirlhygienist

Welcome Back!

Today, I’m joined by Michael Crilly, an award-winning, highly skilled cosmetic dentist based in Belfast, providing a range of aesthetic treatments.

Michael is inspiring on so many levels, but if you’re particularly interested in cosmetic dentistry, the path from clinician to educator, or just want to hear more about his unique journey—this episode is for you.

You can follow Michael and find out about course content below

@michaelcrilly_dentist

@cusp_tips

cusp.courses/store

Thankyou to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting the recording of this episode

Follow us on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends

@homegirlhygienist

Welcome back to SEASON 2 of Conversations with Dental Friends this week I’m chatting with Claire Berry & Ben Tighe aka Your Dental Besties In this episode we chat about progressing your career past the dental surgery setting, moving into a teaching and educational space brand collaborations and being authentic to yourself whatever your dental career.

Thankyou so much to our Season 2 sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company and of course to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this jam packed episode.

As promised here are the links we chatted about

You can find more information on the women’s oral health roadshow and more great courses on their Instagram Dental of Course

You can find out more about applying to Dental Hygiene or Dental Therapy here from BSDHT and through UCAS here

You can find Claire on Instagram @clairelouisesays and Ben @thegumsguy and you can follow their podcast @yourdentaldesties and listen here

You can follow this podcast on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me Rachael @homegirlhygienist

Thanks so much for listening see you next Thursday for another episode

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Madelaine a Dentist, educator, and all-round social media powerhouse with nearly 40,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your professional brand online or what it really takes to build trust in the digital space, this episode is for you.

A huge thank you to Dr. Madelaine for such an honest, insightful, and genuinely inspiring conversation. We covered so much ground, we’re already manifesting a Part 2 so stay tuned!

This episode was kindly hosted by Marlborough Clinic Belfast, thank you so so much for providing the perfect space for us to record.

Make sure you’re following Dr. Madelaine @doctormadelaine on all social platforms for expert insights and updates on her upcoming courses. For even more brilliant content around professional growth and social media strategy, follow @londonhygienist too.

We’ve now wrapped up Season 1! What a season it’s been! Thank you so much to every guest who’s joined us, and to all of you for listening and supporting.

You can catch up on all episodes right here on Spotify, and don’t forget to follow the show @conversationswithdentalfriends for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and updates on Season 2.

You can also find me over on Instagram @homegirlhygienist for more dental life, career chat, and oral hygiene advice!

Thanks for tuning in, Season 2 is coming very soon!

Hi everyone welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends! In today’s episode I’m chatting to Alan Clarke who’s redefining what it really means to be in Dentistry in 2025

You can find more about Alan and Paste Presents on Instagram @alanclarkedentistry and @pastepresents

Alan mentioned so many great resources in our chat which I’ve linked below

Monik Vassant totally composite course

You can check out Spear Study Club here

You can sign up for Perio courses with Ian Dunn here

Simon Sinek Start With Why on Amazon

Jen Sincero You Are A Badass on Amazon

Cat Edney The Modern Therapist

Ben & Claire @yourdentalbesties podcast

More info on Siobhan Kelleher courses here

You can find this podcast on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can see me Rachael over there @homegirlhygienist

Thankyou so much to our sponsors Dürr Dental & Lighthouse Dental Company and Thankyou to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this episode

See you next week for Episode 3

🎙 Welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends!

Today, I’m joined by the totally inspiring Siobhan Kelleher, who’s encouraging us to reimagine what life as a dental professional can look like, both in and out of the clinic.

In this episode, Siobhan shares her journey from clinical dental hygiene into education, brand partnerships, and beyond. We also dive into the power of mindset and how it can truly be your greatest superpower when navigating the ever-evolving world of dentistry.

💬 Whether you’re just starting out or deep in your dental career, this chat is full of practical wisdom and uplifting energy. You won’t want to miss it.

⸻

🔗 Connect with Siobhan and learn more:

• ​ Instagram: @siobhan_education
• ​ Find out more about the Ikigai community on Instagram @ikigaioralhygiene
• ​ Diploma in Oral & Positive Health (EduQual Accredited): Link here
• ​ Learn more about MINST: Link here

⸻

📲 Let’s stay connected!

• ​ Follow the podcast: @conversationswithdentalfriends
• ​ Come say hi to me, Rachael: @homegirlhygienist

⸻

🙏 Big thanks to our amazing sponsors:

Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company — thank you for supporting conversations that matter who you can also find on Instagram @duerrdental and @lighthousedentalcompanyire

🎧 See you next week for Episode 4!

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends this week I’m sitting down with Jack McHugh Engineer, Industry Expert and Founder of Lighthouse Dental Company which he launched this year.

This conversation is not just interesting from Jack’s perspective of starting a business but also has so many transferable messages if your thinking about opening your own dental practice or launching your own venture

To hear more about Jack’s story you can follow him on LinkedIn here and follow the company on Instagram @lighthousedentalcompany_ire

You can follow friends that invest (formally girls that invest) wherever you get your podcasts.

You can follow all things conversations with dental friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me too @homegirlhygienist

Big Thankyou to our sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company for sponsoring this episode and Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record

See you next week for another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week I’m joined by Rebekka Hamilton an Orthodontic Therapist working in Northern Ireland.

I don’t know about you but I was blown away by Orthodontic Therapy and what you can do within your role in practice.

If you are interested in starting where it all began you can find out more about being a dental nurse here

If you want to take the next step or feel it would help with your application process you can find out more about orthodontic dental nursing here

If you are interested in studying orthodontic therapy or want to know more about the role you can explore the different schools below

Belfast Dental School

University of Central Lancaster

Kings College London

Leeds Dental Institute

Bristol Dental School

This is also amazing information to have if you’re a practice owner or Dentist practicing Ortho and you feel your team would benefit from adding an Orthodontic Therapist into the mix

Thankyou so much to Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company for Sponsoring this episode and of course Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this episode

If you loved this episode leave us a comment and don’t forget to follow and of course share it with your friend who would be a great orthodontic therapist or someone who just needs to know more about the role.

You can find out more about the podcast over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode!

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week I’m chatting to Marie Sharkey a Dentist with a Special Interest in Periodontics

Marie has such brilliant insights in this episode not just about periodontics (which if you know me is my favourite) but also working at home in Northern Ireland but also travelling for her work in clinic in England, lecturing and moving into the educational space and of course navigating all this as a new mum in Dentistry

You can look at pursuing a Masters in Periodontology just like Marie at the following

Manchester here

UCL here

Newcastle here

Bristol here

Central Lancaster here

Kings College London here

You can find out more about Marie’s study clubs back to basics or otherwise by signing up for Marlborough Academy which I’ll leave the link to here. You’ll receive more information about upcoming study clubs from all the clinicians at Marlborough and of course reserve your space for the next Marlborough Academy Conference in 2026

Thankyou so much to our sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company and of course Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record this episode

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast by clicking above to get a new episode straight to your phone every week. You can follow the podcast on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me Rachael over there too as well @homegirlhygienist

Thanks so much for listening see you next week for another episode

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week I’m joined by the amazing Nina Farmer who is a DUAL QUALIFIED Dental and Nutritional Therapist

This chat with Nina as so amazing because not only does Nutritional Therapy enrich your life but it can also enrich the lives of your patients and colleagues too.

To find out more about Nutritional Therapy you can click the link here

If you’re interested in becoming a dental therapist generally you can click the link here

If you’re interested in joining BSDHT or coming to an event you can click the link here

To find out more about the ADI you can click the link here

You can follow Nina on Instagram @nina.integratedhealth and if you love Nutrition you might want to also give @juliettereeves1 a follow because she’s amazing too

Thankyou so much to our sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company and of course big thanks to the girls at Megagen for testing our Vitamin D levels

You can find all things conversations with Dental Friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode

Welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends

This week I’m chatting to Aoife Lordan, who has just graduated from Dentistry at Queens University Belfast and Lucy Mulholland who’s in final year.

This is a two part special in this episode we chat about A Levels, Applying to University - UCAS personal statements interviews and choosing to do dentistry at Queens University Belfast

If you’re interested in applying for dentistry you can find more here

If you want to find out more about queens university belfast you can find out more here

Thankyou so much to our sponsors Dürr Dental & Lighthouse Dental Company and Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record

See you next week for part 2 of this conversation with Aoife and Lucy on Surviving Dental School

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends! This week I’m chatting to the incredible TCO Shelley Dawson

If you’re interested in training to be a dental nurse you can check out the NEBDN website here

You can find some amazing dental implant training courses below

https://www.nebdn.org/qualifications/post-registration-qualifications/dental-implant-nursing/

https://www.smilewisdom.co.uk/nebdn-certificate-in-implant-nursing/

https://icedentalimplants.co.uk/introduction-to-dental-implant-nursing/

https://www.campbellacademy.co.uk/the-online-dental-implant-nursing-course

If you’re interested in exploring more about treatment coordination

https://dentaltrainingcollege.com/courses-certificate-in-treatment-coordination-course.html

https://www.smiledentalacademy.com/short-course-treatment-coordinator

You can also follow Laura Horton over on Instagram for some more amazing ideas

Thankyou so much to Shelley who you can also follow on Instagram @shelleyd1986

Thankyou so much to our sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse dental company and Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record

You can follow us over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week I’m chatting to Dr Maria Catney however you may know her as someone else when you get to the end of this episode 👀

Maria first and foremost is an amazingly gifted dentist and here are some links to the courses she suggested here

MJDF

Occlusion course

Perio course

Orthodontic Course

However if you are interested in creative writing or just want to find out a bit more you can check out the Romantic Novelists association here

You can follow along with Maria’s writing journey over on Instagram @saoirse_morrigan and if you are interested in perusing some creative writing persuits then I’m sure Maria would be happy to chat via DM

You can follow along with all thing Conversations with Dental Friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me over there too @homegirlhygienist or over on TikTok if that’s more your thing @homegirlhygeinist1

Thankyou so much to our sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Compang and of course Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record

See you again next week for another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends in today’s episode I’m chatting to the brilliant Michelle Molloy about practice management

You can find out more about dental nursing here

More information about Michelle’s practice management course here and you can also check out a similar course through NIMDTA here

You can follow Larne Dental Centre on Instagram @larnedentalcentre

Thankyou so much to our amazing sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company and a special thankyou to Larne Dental Centre and Dr Jillian Saulters for hosting us to record

You can follow Conversations with Dental Friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me over there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode!

Hey everybody welcome back to the season finale on Season 2 of Conversations with Dental Friends

In this episode I’m taking to NI dental legend Amanda Jackson

Amanda has had such an amazing career from Dental Nursing to Management to Education and Course Creation.

There were SO many things to add to the show notes so here are as many as I can cram in

If you’re interested in becoming a dental nurse you can click the link here

If you would like to move into formal education training you can explore some more info here

NIMDTA has so many amazing post qualifications for DCPs which you can explore here including fluoride application, practice management, orthodontic therapy, training for nurses of FT dentists, operator training and full team cross infection training

You can find out about NIMDTAs open day for sixth form here

And of course the NIMDTA conference is happening on the 17th of October which you can register for here

And of course you can contact Amanda via her email amanda.jackson@hscni.net

Thankyou so much to all of our amazing guests on season 2! We have a special bonus episode next week and we’ll see you soon for Season 3!

🎙️ Welcome back to episode 3 of this season of Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week, we’re switching things up diving into what it really takes to get a dental product from idea to shelf with Dr. Mike and Dr. Toby, the minds behind Dr. Heff’s, the dental supplement your patients definitely need to know about.

We’re talking:

💡 Getting into dentistry

🚀 Turning a product idea into reality

🧩 Balancing innovation with a full-on dental career

🌱 And how big ideas just… keep growing

A huge thank you to Dr. Toby and Dr. Mike for such an inspiring chat and for proving that your dental product dreams might be closer than you think. If you’ve got an idea, reach out to the podcast or to Dr. Heff’s directly let’s see how we can use our dental community to lift each other up.

As always, let me know what you thought of this one and if you’d love more behind-the-scenes conversations like this 👀

You can follow Dr Heff’s on all social media @drheffs or you can find out more on their website here

You can shop Dr Heff’s on their website or on Amazon

You can also listen to Victoria Sampson’s Diary of a CEO episode here

You can follow the podcast over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another episode 💬

We are back with episode 2 of conversations with dental friends! Today I’m joined by the London hygienist herself Anna Middleton discussing the last decade of her career highs and lows and everything Inbetween

In this chat we get into

- getting started in dental hygiene

- Widening your scope of practice with additional dental therapy training

- Becoming an entrepreneur

- How dentistry and poker aren’t that far apart

- Protecting yourself against burnout and honouring your mental health

Massive thankyou to Anna for being so open and honest I know there will be loads of comments and questions after this so our DMs are always open

See you back here next week for another episode of conversations with dental friends

We’re back with episode 2 of Conversations with Dental Friends 🎙️

This week, I’m joined by the London Hygienist herself — Anna Middleton — to look back on ten years of breaking boundaries in the dental industry. From the highs and lows of building a career and brand, to the realities of burnout, balance, and being your own boss, Anna shares what it’s really like behind the success story.

We cover:

💬 Getting started in dental hygiene

🦷 Expanding your scope with dental therapy training

💼 Stepping into entrepreneurship

♠️ Why dentistry and poker might have more in common than you think

🧠 Protecting your mental health and recognising burnout before it hits

A massive thank you to Anna for such an open, honest, and inspiring conversation. I have no doubt this one’s going to spark a lot of thoughts (and probably a few DMs) — so as always, our inbox is open.

You can read Simon Senek start with why here

You can get your own copy of Instagram for Dentists here

You can find out more about Anna’s course thrive here

You can find Aces High on Instagram @aceshighlondon

You can follow Anna on Instagram @londonhygienist and annaconda_life

You can follow Victoria Wilson on Instagram @mysmilerevolution

You can follow Joe Lovett @joelovettcatalyst

You can follow me @homegirlhygienist and of course this podcast @conversationswithdentalfriends

If you don’t know about chat GPT you can find out more here

If you want to practice dental therapy at home

For more info on the BDA you can click here

Phillips sonicare here

EMS here

For more info on becoming a dental hygienist dental therapist you can check out ucas here

See you next week for another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends.

Welcome back to Season 3 of Conversations with Dental Friends!

In our opening episode for this season I am thrilled to introduce Dr Colin Campbell!

This was such a brilliant chat where we discuss

- moving forward through adversity

- building a purpose built practice

-stepping into education

- leaving a legacy in dentistry

Thankyou so much to Colin for such an honest and open conversation, we mentioned loads of good resources so I’ll try and link as many as possible below

You can find out more about the Campbell Clinic, the Campbell Academy and Colin’s Blog here

If you’d like to find out more about the absolute gentleman Mark Pollock you can find out here

All of Simon Sinek’s literary catalogue is available on Amazon

There are many many great dental photography courses but here’s an online one from UCL London

The Marlborough Academy Conference is amazing if you would like to sign up for 2026 you can via the Marlborough Academy here

If you’re looking for your community within dental implants you can find out more about the ITI here

or the ADI here

And you can sign up for the next ICE dental institute course here

You can follow all things conversations with dental friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me over there too @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another conversation with my dental friend

Bonus episode drop ✨

It’s that time of year again… application season. Whether you’re going for Oral Health Sciences, Dental Hygiene or Dental Therapy, I’ve pulled together some golden advice from two people who’ve been there and done it Aaron Stewart and Rosie Murphy from way back in Season 1.

We’re covering:

📝 UCAS & personal statements

🎤 The interview process

🧩 CASPer testing

📩 A special message from Aaron & Rosie themselves

A massive thank you to our sponsors Dürr Dental and Lighthouse Dental Company for supporting the pod, and of course to Aaron & Rosie for sharing their wisdom.

If you’re applying this year, good luck, and remember my DMs are always open if you need a bit of guidance.

If you’re interested in a course in Oral Health Sciences or Dental Hygiene or Dental Therapy you can find out more here

If you’re interested in studying dental nursing you can find out more here

You can find out more about post graduate dental nursing courses through NIMDTA here or through the NEBDN here or through tempdent here

If you’re interested in an access course you can find out more info here

If you’re applying to a uni using a Casper SJT you can find out some more info here

You can follow Rosie on Instagram @r.j.therapy and you can follow Aaron @aarondentaltherapy they’re more than happy to answer your questions via DM

you can follow all things conversations with dental friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over there as well @homegirlhygienist or on TikTok if you prefer

P.S. Season 3 is wrapped and ready to go… we’ll be back next week with another brand new episode of Conversations with Dental Friends.

Welcome back to Conversations With Dental Friends.

This week, in Episode 9, I’m sitting down with Dr Naweed Mamood an incredible associate dentist working across multiple practices both in the north and south of Ireland.

This episode really leans into the reality of growth in dentistry:

✨ how learning on the job actually happens, one tiny improvement at a time

✨ why good mentorship doesn’t just guide you, it elevates you

✨ how honest reflection is the backbone of real progress

✨ why challenges teach you just as much (if not more) than your wins

✨ and how empowering your team creates success that genuinely feels shared

A huge thank-you to Dr Naweed for being so open and generous with his insight not just clinically, but in how he approaches development as a whole. All links are in the show notes, and you can follow Naweed over at @dr.naweed.dentistry to keep up with his upcoming courses.

I want to hear from you too how are you growing as an associate right now?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

See you next week for another Conversation With Dental Friends 🤍

You can follow Dr Naweed on Instagram @dr.naweed.dentistry

If you fancy studying at Plymouth university you can find out more information here

You can find out more about paste dental here and on Instagram @paste.dental

You can listen to Alan Clarkes super inspirational episode on season 2 episode 2 of the pod here

You can find out more about gentle dental here or on Instagram here @gentledental

Course recommendations

Marshall Hanson

Paul Tipton

Aliners

You can find out more about practicing dentistry in Dubai here

Thanks so much for listening 🫶🏼

Episode 8 of Season 3 is officially live 🎧

This week I’m joined by the brilliant Lauren O’Boyle a dentist who’s been incredibly open about navigating mental health challenges, the pressure of early career decisions, and the moment she realised she needed to pause, reflect, and choose a different direction within dentistry.

We get into:

• the pressure to choose your path far too young

• finding your place in the NHS system

• how slowing down can actually fast-track your clarity

• legal + ethical realities nobody really talks about

• mental health in a profession that rarely stops

• and why dentistry is just one part of who we are

A huge thank you to Lauren this conversation will resonate with the entire dental team, not just dentists. So if someone in your world needs to hear it, please share it their way 💛

All the info (including Lauren’s email) is in the show notes, so head there if you’d like to get in touch.

If you’re thinking about a career in dentistry click here

If you would like to study at queens you can click here

If you think Liverpool would be more you’re thing you can click here

If you’re interested in a legal and ethics masters you can click here

If you’re thinking of teaching in dentistry you can find more info here

For more information around dental indemnity you can check out dental protection here or DDU here

You can chat to Lauren via email lauren.oboyle@bupadentalcare.co.uk

This is such a difficult topic but for more information on suicide awareness training with NIMDTA you can click here

You can find more information on mental health services with mind here

You can find more about the headspace app here

You can follow the podcast on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me too @homegirlhygienist

Massive thank you to our sponsors Dürr Dental and DMI, and to Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us while we recorded.

👇 In the comments, tell me: how do you protect your mental health in dentistry?

See you next Thursday for another conversation with dental friends ✨

✨ Episode 7 is now live! ✨

This week I’m joined by the amazing Vicki Griffiths, a dental therapist whose career has honestly been one of the most inspiring we’ve featured so far. From making the most of her scope as a dental nurse to carving out her niche in dental therapy, Vicki’s story is full of insight, honesty, and plenty of motivation for anyone in the dental world.

We get into:

🦷 The incredible scope of practice for dental nurses

📄 Applying for dental therapy

💬 Tips for supporting patients with additional needs

🎯 Finding your niche

🤝 BSDHT and community in dentistry

📱 Navigating social media as a dental professional

This was such a fun conversation — I learned so much, laughed a lot, and honestly left feeling a bit like I’d had therapy myself. A huge thank you to Vicki for being so open and generous with her experiences.

And of course, massive thanks to our sponsors Dürr Dental, DMI, and The ICE Dental Institute in Manchester for hosting us for this episode!

If you enjoyed listening, make sure to check out the show notes for all the links, share this episode with your dental friends, and hit follow on the podcast so you never miss a new chat landing on your phone each week.

🎧 See you next Thursday for another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends!

You can find out more about applying for Dental Nursing here

Absolutely look into applying to your local dental hospital to really step up your dental nursing career, the Belfast trust website has loads of information here or Google in your area

If your interested in applying for dental therapy you can find out more information here

If you’re already a dental therapist (or dental hygienist) and you’d love to get that feeling of community by joining a society you can find more information on BSDHT here and BADT here

If you think studying in Manchester sounds amazing (because I do) you can find out more information about Salford university here

You can find links to all the post grad quails and more information about ICE Dental Institute here

You can find Vicki on Instagram and TikTok @vic_dental_therapist

You can find Conversations with Dental Friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @homegirlhygienist

If you’re interested in the face spray you can find it on Amazon

You can check out Siobhan Kelleher’s brilliant episode on Season 2 Episode 3 of this podcast and find out more information on her course here

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends 💬

This week I’m joined by the brilliant Shennae Bartlett from Chairsyde a dentist who’s diving deep into how AI can actually support us in dentistry, rather than replace us.

We’re unpacking:

✨ The myths (and truths) about how AI will really impact our careers

🦷 What AI actually means for the dental world

🛠️ How tools like Chairsyde can make your day-to-day easier and more efficient

💡 And how leaning into innovation can help us rediscover our passion, tackle burnout, and build a more sustainable future in dentistry

A huge thank you to Shennae for such an insightful, inspiring conversation and for reminding us that embracing change doesn’t have to mean losing the human side of what we do.

Big thanks to our sponsors Dürr Dental and DMI for supporting this episode.

🎧 Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode and let me know in the comments: How are you using AI in your dental career?

You can find out more about Chairsyde here

You can find out more about research opportunities here

You can follow conversations with dental friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends

And I’m over there too @homegirlhygienist

Finally apologies for any sound issues on this episode we are working with the latest technology but sadly there can occasionally be feedback even after sound enhancement but I hope you still enjoyed it!

See you next week for another deep dive into all things dentistry and beyond 👋

🎙️ Welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week we’re joined again by Aoife and Lucy for part two of Surviving Dental School and trust me, it’s a good one.

We’re diving into everything from:

🦷 staying sane through exam season

🧠 looking after your mental health

💼 joining the BDA and spicing up your CV

✨ making the most of your time outside of study

📄 and of course, navigating foundation training applications.

A huge thank you to Aoife and Lucy for coming back to share such honest, relatable insights into life as dental students at Queen’s University Belfast it’s the kind of conversation every dental student needs to hear.

If you’re currently studying (or gearing up for foundation training this year 👀), let us know in the comments what resonated most — we love hearing your thoughts!

See you next week for another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends! 💬

You can find quizlet here

You can get more information about dentistry at queens university here

You can find the student wellbeing service at QUB here

You can get more information about student membership at the BDA here

You can find more information about research at QUB here

You can find more about the BDA future leaders program here

Post graduation courses can be found in Northern Ireland at NIMDTA here

You can find out more about foundation training here

New episode alert!

This week on Conversations With Dental Friends, I’m joined by Dr Emma McCrory, a specialist orthodontist who’s built her own orthodontic practice right here in Northern Ireland.

We’re diving into everything from:

✨ What speciality training really involves time, cost, travel, and all the realities

✨ Relocating as a specialist and finding your place

✨ The highs and hurdles of setting up your own practice

✨ Building and empowering an incredible team

✨ The secret weapon that is orthodontic therapy

✨ And how Emma’s journey has evolved into education and beyond

A huge thank you to Dr Emma for sharing so openly there are so many brilliant takeaways in this one, not just for orthodontists, but for the entire dental team.

For more information on speciality orthodontic training you can click the link here

For more information on Orthognathic Surgery you can get a brief overview here

To refer to Emma and her team at Lisburn Orthodontics you can click here

To find out more about orthodontic therapy training here in Northern Ireland you can click here

And you can find out more about Rebekka Hamilton’s journey into orthodontic therapy on Season 2 Episode 5 of the podcast or clicking here

You can follow Dr Emma on Instagram @dremmamccrory and her practice @lisburnortho

You can follow all things Conversations with Dental Friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me @homegirlhygienist

To book onto a course with Dr Emma you can find out more info at the British Orthodontic Society here

You can tune in now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧

New episodes every Thursday hit subscribe so you never miss an episode!

See you next week for another Conversation With My Dental Friends 💬🦷

It’s 2026 and we are back with a brand new season of conversations with dental friends!

We are kicking this season off with a bang with the fantastic Laura Horton who has personally changed my career and my approach clinically but more widely has set up her own consultancy, absolutely championed the role of the TCO trailblazed the way through the world of communication and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

In this episode we chat about

- getting started in dentistry

- What treatment coordination actually means

- How the whole practice can benefit at every stage of the patient journey

- Starting your own adventure in business

- Podcast life

- Supporting our colleagues in dental nursing

You can listen now on Spotify and Apple podcast & we also have our news letter on Substack with bts episode summaries and links www.conversationswithdentalfriends.substack.com

To celebrate this season I’ve also designed a FREE career planning notebook for 2026 comment or DM link and I’ll send it to you!

Thankyou so much to our sponsor ORAL B for supporting this podcast

See you next week for another conversation with dental friends

It’s 2026 and Conversations with Dental Friends is officially back 🎙️

New season. New conversations. Same mission: real talk about careers, growth and the people shaping dentistry.

We’re kicking things off with someone who has genuinely changed the trajectory of my career — Laura Horton. From transforming my clinical approach, to building her own consultancy, championing the TCO role, and leading the way in communication within dentistry… Laura is proof of what’s possible when you back yourself and your skillset. And honestly, I can’t wait to see what she does next.

In this episode, we talk about:

• getting started in dentistry

• what treatment coordination actually means

• how the entire practice benefits at every stage of the patient journey

• starting your own business adventure

• life behind the podcast

• and why supporting our dental nursing colleagues really matters

You can listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧

Plus, our Substack newsletter is live with behind-the-scenes insights, episode summaries and all the links

👉 conversationswithdentalfriends.substack.com

To celebrate the new season, I’ve also created a FREE 2026 career planning notebook ✍️

Comment or DM me “LINK” and I’ll send it straight over.

Don’t forget to follow Laura on Instagram @laurahorton1

You can listen to the Horton hangout here

You can find out more about Laura’s practice coaching sessions on treatment coordination, reception and her new initiative ‘Aspire’ on her website here

Huge thank you to Oral-B for supporting this season of the podcast.

See you next week for another conversation with dental friends 💬🦷

Welcome back and somehow we’re already at the season finale of Conversations With Dental Friends?!

We’re closing out the season with an absolute gem: Dr Niall Neeson, who you’ll definitely know as @thecalmingdentist. And trust me, the name is earned.

This episode dives into:

✨ Finding your niche in dentistry

✨ The real, practical tips for supporting nervous patients

✨ Why time is the most valuable asset you’ve got

✨ And how the right environment sets everyone up to thrive

A huge thank you to Dr Niall for sharing so many actionable insights especially those patient-management tips that will save both you and your patients a whole lot of stress on clinic days.

To find out more about BSMDH Scotland click here

Diploma in sedation trinity college Dublin here

SWOT analysis info here

Communication course here

Andrew jones sedation course here

Dental nurse sedation training dental sedation courses.co.uk here

Kit calm link here

The ever popular Paul Tipton course here

Oral surgery course with Chris Waith Joe McEnhill here

Ambrish Roshan composite course here

Michael Crilly composite course here

Niall on Instagram @calmingdentist you can follow the podcast on Instagram too @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m on Instagram too @homegirlhygienist

Boyne dental website including referrals for dental fear solutions with Dr Niall here

I genuinely can’t believe that’s another season wrapped. Thank you, truly, for every listen, message, share, and piece of feedback. It means more than you know.

And of course, thank you to every brilliant guest who joined us this season 🫶🏼 I’ve learned so much from each of you.

We’re taking a little Christmas break, but Season 4 will be landing in 2026 with even more brilliant conversations with dental friends.

Drop your guest suggestions in the comments and I’ll see you in the new year! 🎙️🦷✨

Episode 11 is live!

This week on Conversations With Dental Friends, I’m sitting down with Dr Janice Brown — a dentist who’s taken her clinical roots and built a thriving career in facial aesthetics. 🚀

We dive into:

✨ The power of a solid dental foundation for long-term growth

✨ Why smart investment always shows up before smart profit

✨ Backing yourself enough to make the leap (even when it’s scary)

✨ Social media as a growth tool and why nothing beats word of mouth

A huge thank you to Dr Janice Brown for bringing so much clarity, honesty and inspiration to this episode. Go give her a follow if you’re curious about referrals… or if you’re considering polynucleotides because, let’s be real, same 🤪💉

Are you practising facial aesthetics alongside dentistry right now? Drop it in the comments I want to know! 👇

Massive shoutout to our sponsors Dürr and DMI for supporting the podcast. 💛 and of course Marlborough Clinic Belfast for hosting us to record

If you’re interested in Tipton training click here

Masters degree in aesthetic medicine here

Bob Cantor course here

Lee Walker FA course here

Jonny De Souza clinic here

Galderma info here

Jason Smithson course here

ICE dental and implant institute course here

You can find Janice on Instagram @drjanicebrown

You can follow me @conversationswithdentalfriends and @homegirlhygienist

See you next week for another Conversation With Dental Friends. 🦷✨

Episode 10 is here 🎉 and it’s a good one.

This week on Conversations with Dental Friends, I’m joined by the incredible Lisa Grogan, a dental coach who’s genuinely shaking things up across the industry.

We get into:

• ​What dental coaching actually looks like in practice
• ​Turning motivation into something you can break down, action, and sustain
• ​How coaching can transform not just individuals, but an entire dental team
• ​Industry predictions for 2026 and what’s coming next
• ​The power of starting before you feel “ready” and why that matters more than you think

A huge thank you to Lisa for sharing such sharp, refreshing insights into a career path in dentistry that more of us should be talking about.

You can find Lisa over at @lisagrogan_dentalcoaching drop her a message, get connected, see what coaching could look like for you.

And tell me in the comments: have you ever considered working with a coach as part of your career development?

You can find the chimp paradox here

You can find crucial conversations here

You can find Jen Atkin blowing my way to the top here

Find out more about AI receptionists here

You can listen to Shennae’s podcast around AI in dentistry here

You can listen to Alan Clarkes podcast here

You can find out more about Invisalign here

You can find out more about Chris barrow including his private business 100 group here

Make sure you’re following along here on Instagram, @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over there too @homegirlhygienist and hit subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Massive thank you to our sponsors @duerrdental and @DMI for supporting the pod.

See you next week for another Conversation with Dental Friends.

This week on Conversations with Dental Friends, I’m joined by Gemma Cowen, aka @_boss_dental_health ✨

Gemma may be recently qualified, but she’s already making serious waves. From championing dental therapy and direct access to fully stepping into her scope, this conversation is all about backing yourself and thinking bigger from day one.

We talk about:

• ​non-traditional routes into dentistry
• ​ambition (and giving yourself permission to have it)
• ​maximising your scope in practice
• ​further education and postgraduate study
• ​why the future for dental therapists is genuinely exciting

Huge thank you to Gemma, it was such a pleasure heading to Manchester to record this episode 🤍

For Reena Wadias massive selection of post graduate courses you ca check out perio school here

For Cat Edneys post graduate course the modern therapist you can click here

You can follow Gemma on Instagram @_boss_dental_health you can follow the podcast @conversationswithdentalfriends and you can follow me @homegirlhygienist

If this conversation resonated, don’t forget to follow, rate and comment wherever you listen. You can also subscribe to our Substack for more insights and conversations like this.

Feeling inspired by Gemma? You can download a free dental career planning workbook for 2026 - just comment or DM me the word LINK and I’ll send it straight over.

Massive thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode.

See you next week for another conversation with dental friends ✨

This week on Conversations with Dental Friends 🤍

I’m joined by periodontal hero Dr Amit Patel to talk all things perio, implants, and what it really looks like to build a meaningful career in dentistry — even when the path isn’t linear.

In this episode, we talk about:

• why the journey into dentistry (and specialism) is rarely straightforward

• how “meandering” can actually shape your best career moves

• key developments in perio and implant dentistry, and what they mean in practice

• taking your training further without burning out

• the power of finding (and backing yourself within) the right network

Huge thank you to Amit for his generosity, patience, and openness, this conversation felt just as important for me personally as it will for anyone listening.

You can find out more about emdogain here

You can find out more about pocket x here

Chitosan brushes for Peri-implantitis here

Diabetes & Periodontitis here

Gut Microbiome & Perio here

to find out about Crystal Marruganti you can click here

You can find out more about heart disease and perio here

You can get some vitamin D with K2 here

You can find out about Osetocom here

You can find Perio with Deepak here

You can find Perio Campus here

You can click here for more info about the ADI

Here for the BSP

Here for BSDHT

Here for europerio

ADI thrive ever here

Thankyou to Oral B for Sponsoring this episode

Make sure you’re following the podcast wherever you listen. You can also follow Amit at @amitspecialistinperiodontics and sign up to our newsletter at conversationswithdentalfriends.substack.com for more conversations like this.

You can grab my FREE dental career planning workbook by commenting or DM’ing me the word LINK - I’ll send it straight over.

Massive thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode 🤍

You can catch up on all seasons now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

See you next week ✨

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends ✨

This week I’m joined by dental associate Dr Mary Catherine O’Dolan someone who’s quietly putting in the work, investing in her education, and becoming a real name to watch in dentistry.

We talk about:

• getting started and finding your direction

• investing in courses (short and long game)

• turning knowledge into confident clinical practice

• stepping into education

• and why the right practice support changes everything

A genuinely inspiring conversation about backing yourself, staying curious, and building a career with intention.

All the relevant links are below

You can follow Mary Catherine on Instagram @dr.marycatherine

The 22 course Mary Catherine Mentioned are

Invisalign Go Accredation here

Open University Learning to Teach here

AMOMS Annual Conference

FAC Accredited Facial Aesthetics here

Sleep Device Use and Construction

MFDS Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians Glasgow here

Inhalation Sedation Competency here

Totally Composite by Monik Vasant here

Level 1&2 CBCT here

Zero Bone Loss Concepts by Thomas Linkevičius here

ADI Team Conrgress here

Chrome Guided Smiles, Full Arch Implant Placement and Restoration here

Design, Align, Refine, Invisalign and Composite Bonding here

CBCT lead Digital Fully Guided Implant Planning here

Focus Bounce Clinical Photography here

Visit to BTI headquarters, Vitoria Gasteiz, to explore the uses of PRGF in implant dentistry and the use of short and extra-short implants here

Several Invisalign provider online courses to keep my knowledge up to date on the latest features of clear aligner therapy here

RealGuide Proficiency Training

Composite Layering Techniques, PosteriorInjection Moulding and Porcerlain Cementation, Visit to GC Europe headquarters (Leuven) here

Art of Resin by Rhodri Thomas here

Direct Restorative course by Thomas Taha here

Use of Short Implants in the Mandible/ BTI Youth Summit, Visit to BTI Head Quarters here

Restorative/Periodontal interface Course hosted by Jorg Cordosa in Porto here

Sinus Augmentation and Block Grafting Intensive Course here

Aesthetic Update Article here

You can follow all things conversations with dental friends over on Instagram @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m over on Instagram too @homegirlhygienist or TikTok if you prefer

Don’t forget to subscribe to our new Substack newsletter:

conversationswithdentalfriends.substack.com

You can also get your free dental care planning workbook, just comment or DM the word LINK.

Huge thank you to our sponsors Oral-B beyond grateful.

Back next week with another conversation 🎙️

From dental therapist → practice consultant → educator… with a few pivots in between.

Welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends 🎙️

This week I’m chatting with Poppy Dunton (@dunton.consulting) — a dental therapist and practice consultant who’s worked in almost every role in dentistry… and has the perspective to prove it.

In this episode we talk about:

💡 Why work experience can completely change your career path

💡 Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone

💡 Jumping in with two feet into dental therapy

💡 The realities of practice management

💡 Pivoting your career when things evolve

💡 Teaching, burnout & changing the conversation around menopause

It’s a really honest conversation about career growth, reinvention and backing yourself, even when things feel uncertain.

Huge thank you to Poppy for sharing so many insights 🙌

And a massive thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode 🦷

🔗 All links are in the show notes

📩 DM me LINK to get your FREE 2026 Career Planning Workbook

💌 Sign up to the Conversations with Dental Friends Substack (link in bio)

Don’t forget to like, share & subscribe if you enjoyed the episode 🤍

See you next week for another conversation with dental friends ✨

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends 🤍

This week I’m sitting down with Dr Claire Hughes cosmetic dentist, entrepreneur, and one of Northern Ireland’s inspiring female dental practice owners redefining what leadership in dentistry can look like.

Because here’s the thing…

Graduating is just the beginning.

In this episode we talk about:

– Why the real education starts after university

– Building a practice by leaning into your feminine strengths (not shrinking them)

– The responsibility we have to lift as we climb in the female dental community

– Expanding your craft with facial aesthetics

– And finding your why in cosmetic dentistry so your career actually feels aligned

Claire is generous, ambitious, and proof that you don’t have to choose between clinical excellence and business leadership. You can build both.

You can connect with her on Instagram @clairehughesdental and @drclairefacialaesthetics we’re incredibly lucky to have women like Claire leading the way in dental practice ownership here in Northern Ireland. Reach out. Start conversations. Build your circle.

Everything is linked in the show notes (go and have a scroll wherever you’re listening).

Follow the podcast @conversationswithdentalfriends

Follow me @homegirlhygienist

A huge thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode and supporting these conversations.

If you’re ready to start shaping 2026 intentionally, DM me the word LINK and I’ll send you my 2026 Career Planner.

Make sure you’re subscribed wherever you listen and you can also join us over on Substack at conversationswithdentalfriends.substack.com

See you next week for another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends ✨

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends 💬✨

This week’s episode is one of those conversations that genuinely reminds you why prevention matters so much. I’m joined by Kirsty , an oral health cheerleader, prevention-first clinician, and innovator, who’s built something really special with Kirsty’s Smile Academy, creating connection with oral health that goes far beyond the dental chair.

We talk about:

• ​ getting started in dentistry (and the non-linear paths that still lead somewhere amazing)
• ​ dyslexia → confidence → success
• ​ building an app from an idea
• ​ direct access and empowering patients
• ​ using content to actually reach communities, not just colleagues

It’s such an energising listen for anyone who believes oral health education can, and should, be bigger.

Huge thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode 🤍

You can find Kirsty’s app ‘Kirsty’s Smile Academy’ on the App Store or wherever you usually download

For more information on dyslexia click here

For Siobhan Kellehers course click here

You can listen to Siobhan’s episode from season 2 here

You can follow Kirsty on Instagram and TikTok @kirstysmileacademy

If you want more behind-the-scenes insights like this, you can find us over on Substack, subscribe so you never miss an episode drop.

And if this conversation sparks something for you… you can download the completely FREE Conversations with Dental Friends Career Planning Workbook for 2026 by DMing me the word LINK 📩

New episode again next week 🎙️

Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends 🤍

This week’s conversation is a special one.

I’m sitting down with the brilliant Kathryn Mayo, a clinician, educator and leader who has helped shape what modern dental hygiene looks like today.

We talk about:

– how she first got started in dentistry

– finding your niche (and having the courage to own it)

– why collaboration will always outperform competition

– clinical growth through implants and MINST

– stepping into education

– staying curious and continually expanding your knowledge

– and what it really means to lift a profession skywards

This is a conversation about longevity, leadership and refusing to stand still.

Thank you so much to Kathryn, this is genuinely one I’ll come back to again and again. Hand on heart, Kathryn and Jenny’s course with Implant Educators is my favourite postgraduate course I’ve ever attended. If you’re ready to invest in your clinical confidence, I’ve linked how to get involved (and other brilliant postgraduate opportunities) in the show notes.

You can follow Kathryn on Instagram @kathryn_dentalhygienist

You can follow Jenny Walker @jennywalker_dentaltherapist

You can follow @theimplanteducators for more info on Kathryn and Jenny’s courses and of course @icedentalinstitute

Let me know in the comments if you’re an undergraduate and would like Kathryn to do some implant education with you at your dental school and I’ll pass your info on

To find out more about what your scope could include as a dental hygienist or dental therapist you can click here

To find out more about ADHD you can click here

You can find out more about teaching here

You can get some great information on MINST here

Some excellent information on monitoring dental implants in practice here

You can listen to Siobhan Kelleher’s Episode here

A huge thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode and supporting these conversations.

You can listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and if you enjoy it, don’t forget to follow, rate, review and subscribe. It makes such a difference.

You can also subscribe to our Substack for deeper dives on this episode and past seasons.

And if Kathryn has inspired you to think bigger - more internationally, more strategically - DM me the word LINK and I’ll send you my completely free 2026 career planning workbook.

See you next week for another conversation with dental friends 💗

Another Thursday, another Conversations with Dental Friends 🎙️

This week I’m joined by the brilliant @londonOT Sarah MacDonald, chatting all things orthodontic therapy and how she’s built a career that goes far beyond the traditional surgery setting.

In this episode, we dive into:

✨ what the role of an orthodontic therapist really looks like

✨ maximising your scope and backing yourself

✨ stepping into education and sharing your expertise

✨ what it actually means to be an “expert”

✨ and why your dental career doesn’t have to stay confined to the surgery

Huge thank you to Sarah for such an open and inspiring conversation make sure you check out the show notes wherever you listen.

You can find out more about becoming an orthodontic therapist here

Shoutout to my friends at NIMDTA who are now offering orthodontic therapy in Belfast here

We have some great previous episodes discussing orthodontic therapy if you would like to find out more

Bekka Hamilton here

Amanda Jackson here

Emma McCrory here

You can find out more about Sarah’s courses on Instagram @the_london_ot or on her website here

You can also sign up to our Substack for more brilliant conversations around orthodontic therapy and what it could mean for your practice.

Don’t forget to like, comment, rate and share 🤍

You can grab your FREE dental career planning workbook for 2026 by commenting or DM’ing the word LINK — let’s make 2026 your year.

A huge thank you to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode.

See you next week for another conversation with a dental friend ✨

What does it really look like to maximise your dental therapy career? 🎙️

Welcome back to another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends.

This week I’m chatting with Robbie Stewart, dental therapist and Dental Therapist of the Year 2025 and it was such a great conversation.

In this episode we get into:

• ​ Working in Australia 🇦🇺 what that experience was really like
• ​ Maximising your dental therapy scope day-to-day in practice 🦷
• ​ Stepping into education and sharing knowledge with others📖
• ​ Giving back to the profession and supporting the next generation 🫶🏼
• ​ Dreaming big and backing yourself in your career 💭

This episode is especially for dental therapists, hygienists, and anyone thinking about how they can grow and develop their career in dentistry.

Huge thank you to Robbie for such an inspiring conversation.

To find out more about Newcastle universality click here

To find out more about working as a dental hygienist in Australia click here

Dental therapy scope of practice here

Dental elective here

If you’re thinking of investing in a dental camera click here for some information

For more info on Poppy Duntons courses click here

You can follow Robbie on Instagram @robbiethedentaltherapist for more info on his portfolio and upcoming events

If you’d like to dive deeper into anything we discussed, check out the show notes for more details.

Thank you also to Oral-B for sponsoring this episode.

If this conversation has you thinking more intentionally about your own career:

✨ Send me a DM with LINK to get your free career planning workbook

✨ Share this episode with a friend in dentistry

✨ Or save it for later listening

You can also find more conversations like this on our Substack newsletter.

We’ll be back next week with another episode of Conversations with Dental Friends 🎙️

🎙️ Welcome back to Conversations with Dental Friends!

This week I’m joined by the brilliant Linzy Baker, a dental therapist who has truly gone from strength to strength in her career. From investing in herself early to building momentum in practice, Linzy shares so many insights for anyone looking to grow and maximise their scope in dentistry.

In this episode we chat about:

✨ Why persistence really does pay off when applying for university

✨ How investing in yourself early can create the foundations for long-term success

✨ Why courses are only half the battle — it’s the implementation that makes the real difference in practice

✨ The power of networking and how it can open unexpected doors

✨ Giving back and supporting the wider dental community

Linzy shares so much honest advice for anyone who wants to hit the ground running in their career.

A huge thank you to Oral‑B for sponsoring this episode 🙌

You’ll find all the links mentioned in the show notes,

Diane Rochford teeth whitening info here

Reena Wadia perio courses here

BTC facial aesthetics training here

Smile Academy training here

Style Italiano here

ADI info here

Book the ADI thrive course 25th April Belfast Castle here

Dentistry.co.uk here

You can find Linzy on Instagram @linzydht you can follow the podcast @conversationswithdentalfriends and I’m there too @homegirlhygienist or on TikTok if you would prefer

and don’t forget to subscribe to the Substack newsletter.

📩 If you’d like to get clearer on your career goals for 2026, I’ve created a completely free career planning workbook. Just send me a DM with the word LINK and I’ll send it over.

See you next week for another Conversation with Dental Friends 🦷✨