Soft Bites Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

After four years, this is our final episode. And it feels fitting to close with a conversation about one of the most complex and emotional decisions a professional can make: selling your dental practice.

This episode is not about transactions. It’s about identity, timing, strategy, and perspective.

Selling a practice is rarely just a financial decision. It can be driven by lifestyle recalibration, strategic opportunity, succession planning challenges, or just the desire to build something new. Jorge André tells us about his experience and unpacks the emotional and economic drivers behind the decision. What makes someone shift from “I built this” to “It’s time to let it go”?

We break down the different models of selling and address the uncomfortable truth: what you think your practice is worth and what the market is willing to pay are often two very different numbers.

We talk about resilience and the reality behind the polished exterior of entrepreneurship. Your business will test your character, it forces maturity, it challenges ego, and it clarifies what truly matters.

And for now, we’ve decided to stop. This decision is about alignment: seasons change, energy shifts, and priorities evolve.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

If you’re considering selling your practice—or just beginning to build one—this, and all the other Soft Bites podcast episodes are for you.

All the best,

Manuela Rodrigues & Jorge André Cardoso

In this episode, we welcome back Professor António Mata to explore one of the most talked-about topics in modern healthcare: artificial intelligence.

AI is everywhere—but what does it really mean for healthcare, and more specifically, for dentistry? Is its impact going to be incremental or truly transformative? Will AI reshape dental practice profoundly?

The conversation also turns to Professor Mata’s personal experience with AI, both in teaching and in research, exploring where AI is already being used, where it adds real value, and where human expertise remains irreplaceable.

A thoughtful and grounded discussion on hype, reality, and the future of AI, not only in dentistry but in humankind.

About Prof Dr. António Mata:

Doctor in dental surgery by the IUEM in 1996

PhD from the University of Central Lancashire in 2003

PhD from the University of Oporto in 2004

Full professor at FMDUL

Coordinator of the research unit FCT- LibPHYS-UL

Chairman of the Evidence-Based Dentistry Center at the FMDUL

Over 100 publications

You can find Prof. Dr. António Mata on LinkedIn @prof-antonio-mata-16531a68 or on Instagram @profantoniomata

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media.

Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession a little better, so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe!

In this episode, we dive deep into how can we develop the (genuine) desire to help others succeed in a highly competitive field like dentistry.

First question: Do you feel joy at other's dentist's success? Or does their good news make you feel competitive?

It’s impossible to find anyone who’s entirely self-made—we all rely on and benefit from others.

Insight: Viewing individual success as communal is the way.

Do you find yourself spending more time comparing and less time celebrating? What are some practical ways you can show support instead of harboring jealousy? Share in the comments some of the things you do when you find yourself in this kind of situation.

The Podcast mentioned by Jorge André is Rich Rool.

The book is The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida.

Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return.

And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠

Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry ⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

In this episode, we talk to Mehy Lo Presti, a specialist in restorative dentistry based in London and co-founder of Global Dental Collective, a community for dentists that brings joy and creativity to dentistry.

Mehy talks about his journey in dentistry, Global Dental Collective, and  Dentorama, which is not your typical seminar but a revolutionary way of learning and networking.

Imagine watching real actors bring to life everyday challenges we all face, right in front of your eyes. Then, just as the tension peaks, the scene freezes. A panel of experts steps in, offering insights and practical solutions to the dramas you’ve just witnessed. But that’s not all, you, the audience, get to share your thoughts, ask questions, and even suggest your own solutions!

And after all that thought-provoking action? It’s time to relax, network, and have a blast at a fabulous afterparty in one of London’s most incredible venues.

Next Event: Dentorama | 18.10.24 | Royal Institution, London

 Topics:

- How Mehy got into dentistry.

- The story behind Dental Collective and Dentorama.

- What dentists struggle more at this point in time.

- The NHS - private transition many practices are doing in UK and the struggles dentistry is facing in UK.

- The trend towards easy-fix cosmetics in dentistry.

- Are students ready to learn about soft skills in dentistry?

Links here:

Dentorama Tickets

Info: www.globaldentalcollective.com/dentorama

Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe!

Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠

Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

Last year we were invited by an enthusiastic colleague to take our Conscious Leadership in Dentistry Course to Amsterdam. We were curious and scheduled a meeting. We discovered Olavo Guerreiro Viegas, a passion-driven dentist wanting to bring something new to dentistry.

In this conversation, we discussed Olavo's journey in dentistry until now, moving from Portugal to France and The Netherlands, the expectations and reality of studying and working abroad, the passion for endodontics, the many challenges of owning a dental practice, exploring new paths in dentistry, and the inspiration for starting a dentistry academy.

Insight: Working with something you are passionate about will motivate you to keep learning, develop new skills, and stay excited.

Olavo graduated as a dentist from the Universidade de Coimbra in Portugal in 2013. He then spent three years in general practice as a dentist in Portugal and France. In September 2019, he completed his training as a dental endodontist at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, and since 2016, his work has consisted exclusively of endodontics. He is the co-owner of Endo en Zo - a referral practice for endodontics in Amsterdam - and the co-founder of Endo en Zo Academy - a training center for endodontics.

Connect with Olavo on Instagram @endodonticsolavo @endoenzoacademy and LinkedIn at Olavo Guerreiro Viegas.

Know more about Endo en Zo Academy and its courses at www.endoenzoacademy.com

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media.

Your comments and messages will help us better understand you and our profession so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe!

Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠

Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

In this conversation, we explore the often-forgotten positive aspects of being a dentist. Come on, our job provides many rewards and opportunities. It's a tough job, but Dentists are often at the top of the list of the best jobs because it's a career that offers a variety of benefits. And we love it!

What about you? What is your favorite thing about being a Dentist?

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media.

Your comments and messages will help us to know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return.

If you want to learn more about this take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠https://softbites.online/⁠

And, if you like it, please subscribe! Follow us on Instagram @softbitespodcast ⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠ & ⁠@andredolf⁠

In this episode, we are joined by Dental Hygienist Andrea Dagot. Believe it or not, in many European countries, dental hygiene is still not recognized as a profession in its own right and there is a lack of uniformity and consistency. Each European country has a different level of training and scope of duties. As a result, what a dental hygienist is allowed to do is not the same everywhere in Europe. Andrea is an experienced Dental Hygienist with her own private practice. Early in her career, she was challenged by a teacher to continue her studies in oral medicine in Seattle, where she did a degree completion program with a minor in oral medicine. Throughout her career she did volunteer work in local basic schools, teaching prevention, and was an assistant teacher at the University of Dentistry in Porto for the dental hygiene course. This last year she has been developing a course for dental hygienists, the first edition starts in October. We talked to her about her journey, her vision of how a dental hygienist adds value to a dental practice and complements the dentist's work, the best strategy to integrate a Dental Hygienist in control appointments, the importance of patient motivation in dental hygiene, and new research on dental hygiene and dental prevention. Insight: Progression over perfection! You can follow Andrea @dra.andreadagot and learn more about the "How to Dental Hygiene 2.0" course here. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠ Follow Soft Bites on Instagram ⁠@softbitespodcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

Onboarding refers to the process of providing new employees with the resources they need to transition into a company. It essentially helps new hires feel more comfortable with their new job.

According to Glassdoor, organizations with a strong onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82% and productivity by over 70%.

In a dental practice, the onboarding process is completely different for dentists and nurses but essential for both.

Insight: Onboarding is not the same as Training!

Please share with us the guidelines from the onboarding process of your practice or your onboarding experience. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media.

Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe!

Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠⁠https://softbites.online/⁠

Follow Soft Bites on Instagram @softbitesp⁠odcast⁠ and follow us ⁠⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@andredolf⁠⁠

This is a surprising conversation. We already knew Francisco Teixeira Barbosa as an exceptional oral surgeon and speaker. What we didn't expect was the vulnerable human being.

Francisco took us through his career journey and how he got to the point of burnout and healing. He also discussed the future of teaching and dentistry, how certain experiences change you, work-life balance, success, mindset, and motivation.

Thank you Francisco for showing us the power of vulnerability we are sure your testimony will make a difference for many listening. Francisco Teixeira Barbosa is an esteemed oral surgeon specializing in implant dentistry with over 20 years of experience. He is the founder of Periospot and an international speaker on Digital Implant Dentistry. Francisco holds an MBA from ESADE in Barcelona, a Master’s degree in Implant Dentistry, and a post-graduation degree in Oral Surgery. Additionally, he has a degree in Online Marketing and Communications from IESE Business School in Barcelona. He is also a content marketing expert and author of several books on implant dentistry. Recently, he has been focusing on AI technologies and has become proficient in both back-end and front-end development, creating innovative applications for the dental community.

Follow the work of Francisco at Periospot, and connect with Francisco on Instagram , LinkedIn , or Youtube .

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Your comments and messages will help us know you and our profession better so we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: ⁠https://softbites.online/ Follow Soft Bites on Instagram @softbitespodcast and follow us ⁠@mindful.dentistry⁠ & ⁠@andredolf⁠

WE WENT LIVE and we would love to hear your insights on this.

What is more important in a dental practice: the patients or the team?

Listen to our conversation about the two most important dental practice success factors!

If you want to develop your leadership skills join us at the next edition of the Conscious Leadership in Dentistry Course. 3, 4 & 5 October in Sagres, Portugal.

An immersive program that aims to boost the growth of dentists and dental clinics by developing internal leadership.

Know more at https://softbites.online/