Soft Bites Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Hugo Madeira, a leading figure in Portuguese dentistry and an innovative force in healthcare. Hugo takes us through his personal and professional journey—reflecting on the early days of social media, the challenges he's faced, the milestones he's reached, and the vital importance of self-care in sustaining peak performance.

Hugo is the CEO of Clínica Hugo Madeira and GBT Clinic, as well as a respected healthcare entrepreneur. Known for combining cutting-edge technology with a profoundly human-centered approach, he leads a multidisciplinary team committed to delivering both clinical excellence and meaningful patient experiences. He’s also an international speaker on innovation, AI, and patient-centred care.

You can find Hugo Madeira here:

Why are so many dental offices toxic work environments? We are trained to fix teeth, yet when a dentist opens a practice, they must now possess the knowledge to manage staff, market, provide good customer service, etc. That’s a lot of extra responsibilities we were never trained in. Together with an already stressful profession, the result can be gossip, drama, a high staff rotation, and a very toxic environment to work in.

In this conversation, we try to answer the question: How to spot a toxic dental clinic in a work interview?

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!

Have you ever worked for a dental clinic where a ‘work-family' environment is promoted? Or are you a dental clinic owner who encourages the internal culture of "We’re a family here"?

In our Conscious Leadership Course in Dentistry, we always pointed out how this "family" culture is not the right one for a dental clinic.

It seems like something of little importance. However, colleagues usually say the "work family" environment in a dental clinic is used positively, so everyone feels valued and close.

However, this "work-family" culture can make it more difficult to set healthy boundaries and cause harm to both the company and employees.

One of our main focuses is creating healthy work environments in dental clinics ("drama-free" clinics, as Jorge André likes to call them). A big part of the work is shifting the mentality from ‘we’re all in this together’ to ‘we’re all working towards the same purpose’. We teach you how you can implement and achieve this mentality in a sustainable way at your dental clinic.

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!

Dentistry has no shortcomings. A successful dental practice is a long-term game, and dentists must learn to play it if they want a long and fulfilling career. Surrounding yourself with good people is one of the many secrets to playing the long game, but there are many more.

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!

It’s still easy for dental clinics to offer minimum to low wages and salaries – especially if the applicants have no differentiated education or are new to dentistry. However, not every employee will comply and accept the offered payment, especially when they know how much money your clinic makes. When that happens, consequences will affect all dental practice, and can include low loyalty, high employee turnover, poor performance, low morale, or/and poor company culture.

We know while it may seem straightforward to increase wages, a combination of economic, market, and social factors also complicates the situation. However, addressing these issues should be a priority if you want to build and maintain a strong team.

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!

In this episode, we talk to António Roma Torres, a Portuguese endodontist with a private practice focused on advanced endodontics, utilizing surgical microscopes for precision treatment. António is a graduate of the University Fernando Pessoa in Porto (DDS, 2010) and a Specialty Training at Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Lisbon (2013-2016) in endodontics, and has been training dental professionals in endodontics and clinical microscope use since 2015.

In addition to clinical practice, António has held key roles within the Portuguese Dental Association, serving as President of its Continuing Training Centre (2020-2024) and currently as a Board Member. He also represents Portugal as National Liaison Officer at the FDI World Dental  Federation since 2022.

Topics:

- How António got into dentistry;

- Why endodontics?

- Biggest career challenges until;

- Exploring new paths in dentistry as a part of the Portuguese Dental Association;

- How music shapes and reflects in António's everyday dentistry practice.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Dr. Laila Hishaw is a fellow American Dentist, received her doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and her specialty certificate in pediatric dentistry from UT Health Science–San Antonio and is a board-certified pediatric dentist and the founding partner of Tucson Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Tucson, where she lives with her husband and three children. But she is also a role model and mentor to children and future dentists. Dr. Hishaw is one of only 3.8% of Black dentists in America, strongly believes representation matters, and that children will want to emulate what they see in their lives. She decided something needed to be done to change this statistic and her passion project has grown into a nonprofit organization. Dr. Hishaw created the Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships to educate, empower, and mentor African American youth and other underrepresented minorities in dentistry.

In this conversation, we get to know Dr. Hishaw, her journey, and her amazing work bringing awareness and advocating for diversity in Dentistry. We wanted to talk with Dr Laila because the reality is (or our reality is) that we don’t hear much about diversity in Dentistry here in Europe. We also asked: Is there a diversity problem in dentistry? How will increasing the diversity in dentistry impact the dentists' lives and the communities they serve? And how can we (dentists) be coached to create a more inclusive and diverse work environment? Dr. Laila answered all our questions and we think this is a valuable conversation to bring awareness to the diversity problem in Dentistry, and also to show how we dentists can be so much more than doctors who fix teeth, we can have a significant impact on the community and ultimately, valuable leaders in dentistry.

Hiring the right Dentist for your clinic needs can be tricky. Should you go for someone with 20 years of experience or no experience but with the right energy to be a good team player?

Of course, this is not black or white, experienced dentists can also be good team players, but let's face it, with experience comes a more individual attitude. This is not necessarily bad, it just needs more adjustment to a new team. And having a cohesive team that can work well together makes a successful dental practice.

How do you make sure that the dentists you are hiring not only have the skills, but the right energy for your dental practice team? Here are some insights from our conversation:

- Hire dentists who embody the culture of your dental practice and they will be an extension of your practice.

- Invest the time needed in evaluating in detail your dental clinic needs. You can only look for the right dentist for your team by knowing what you need.

- Once you know what your dental clinic and team needs, don’t settle for just anyone to fill your vacant positions.

- Offer training to the right candidates: Sometimes a candidate with no experience but the right attitude, and disposition can be way more valuable to a dental clinic than someone with years of experience and a bad attitude.

- Ask yourself regularly: do I have the right people in the right seats?

There is no question that dentists view learning and constant technical updates as part of their profession. But when the subject is human skills we are not that interested.

What would happen if dentists develop a learner mindset for human skills and connection? What would happen if we shifted away from a non-productive, conflict-oriented judger mindset?

We think that with a learner mindset, you become more “other-centered,” leading to you to be more open. And this shift could be your passport to a transformed dentistry.

Insight: The most important thing is your attitude and motivation.

The performance of a dental team can depend on many factors, but clear communication can make all the difference and should be a priority in a dental practice. In an ideal world, team meetings should be held regularly, but let's face it: it's not easy for everyone to attend. So why not implement a system with clear guidelines for written communication? Written communication is an easy way to improve any team’s communication, and allows both professional and practice to record, store, and access notes, instructions, and other written resources.

If you want your team to be more productive and successful, you should encourage effective written communication at your dental practice. In this episode, we’ll discuss the differences between synchronous and asynchronous communication, the benefits of asynchronous communication, and why dental teams should move toward asynchronous communication. We also talk about the WhatsApp group culture, used as a communication tool nowadays. Insights:

- If it's not written it doesn't exist.

- Dental practices already communicate asynchronously with their lab, they just need to establish the same protocols of communication in the team.

- In the end, being specific is a form of kindness.

Negotiating for work conditions in Dentistry should be a collaborative process, where Dentists and Dental Clinics can gain something. For this to happen both parties need to be flexible in their approach, and willing to compromise and adapt.

In this episode, we explore how Dentists can negotiate for better working conditions, keeping in mind that: - Experience counts; - Good work conditions don't always equal money; - Sharing the same values is essential; - Understanding the person across the table (and their constraints) is important;

Insights: 1. Photograph your work. Start documenting your cases. If you have a portfolio of your work to show, this will help the clinic owner to believe your worth (and to better understand why you deserve what you are requesting). 2. Negotiating a job offer and negotiating a salary are not the same. Don't get fixated on money. Focus on the value of the entire proposition: opportunity for growth, working hours, location.

Humanity in healthcare rests on an awareness of patients as human beings first, and patients second. We know that being a dentist can be an exhausting job. And with so many patients coming in and out of appointments, it can be surprisingly easy to drift into a more impersonal approach to each patient who walks through your office door. But it's important to remember that to be the best dentist you can be, you must give your technical best always but also treat every patient like a human being, not a number (even when you are tired).

One insight: it starts with you and your approach going to work every day.

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 a little better so that we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe!

What is the ideal working time in Dentistry?

Until not so long ago it was considered normal for a Dentist to work for long hours 5/6 days a week. And still today, many dentists work under the 8-hour journey premise, leaving the majority feeling unsatisfied, disengaged, and in burnout.  The world is changing, the 4 days work week is here to stay and in Dentistry we see a change too. However, the quality of work will always be crucial.

In this episode, we discuss how to create balanced and healthy working hours for you and your dental practice.

The first step toward creating a sustainable truly satisfying career in dentistry is to have a vision of how you want your life to be, to have goals, and create a plan. In this episode, we discuss our personal productivity systems, hacks, and workflow, to get things done (and accomplish our goals) but most important how to let go once something is achieved. We hope you enjoy it!

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 a little better so that we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe!

Meditation is everywhere nowadays, it became mainstream, and the way we live our lives nowadays, filled with tension, stress, and stimulation, created an urgent demand for it. We are both meditation practitioners and enthusiasts. In this conversation, we talk about our personal approach to meditation and how it serves our life. We also discuss some of the most common myths and misconceptions about meditation and our take on it.

Are dentists being fooled by the dental industry?

This was the motto for our conversation with Dr. Alessandro Devigus and it didn't disappoint!

Dr. Alessandro is always ahead of his time and looking for innovation. But at the same time, he never forgets that the most important thing about our job is the people, and sometimes simplicity is the best option.

In our conversation he took us on a journey from the beginning of his career, passing through how he sees the dental industry nowadays and his vision of the future. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

If opening your own dental practice is something that you always dreamed of... go ahead! We fully support you! Just don't let it become your worst nightmare. Be sure you are prepared and aware of all it involves and the consequences. 

Starting a dental practice can seem overwhelming at first because of the legal and financial aspects of it (and those are just the beginning because there is a lot more to it than you might think).
But, if done in a conscious way, it's a beautiful and rewarding adventure. It's also a unique opportunity to practice the dentistry you love and believe in, to work according to your values, to create a positive work environment, and to make a positive impact on the dental community.
This episode discusses human skills and responsibilities when starting a dental practice, including personal and financial considerations.
We wish you the best on your journey. And remember, do not be afraid to reach out for help.

Is there a generational gap in dentistry? We think yes and that we should be aware of it. Not to divide but to improve and learn from each other.

Each generation has its own characteristics regarding workplace attitudes, general consciousness, and ways of life. In this episode we discuss the new generation:

- Sense of fairness

- Work hours

- Acknowledgment

- Work environment needs

- Mental health awareness

- Human and social skills

- Boundaries

- Work-life balance

- Work responsibility

Our goal is not to label the new generations, is simply to put things in perspective and aknowledge change. Diverse perspectives are a strength, but they can also cause tension, especially if members of different generations often have very different expectations of one another and approach challenges in very different ways.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment, connect with us in social media or email us directly at mindfuldentistry@gmail.com

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

This is a surprising conversation. We already knew Diogo Guerreiro as an exceptional endodontist and speaker, known all over the world. What we didn't expect was the honest and vulnerable human being.

Diogo took us through his career journey and how he got to the point where it's all about taking care of people and doing your best. He also discussed how we look for validation on social media nowadays, how certain experiences change you, work-life balance, success, mindset and motivation.

Thank you Diogo for showing us the power of authenticity and human connection in Dentistry. It's all about the people and making people lives a little better. Sometimes we get wrapped around ego boosting dentistry and we forget it.

In Dentistry we tend to look at perfectionism with positivity. We know perfection doesn't exist, because it's subjective, but we continue to set unrealistic goals and standards based on it. At a certain moment, if we are not self-aware, we may even start to assess self-worth based on achieving unrealistic results.

Why do we hide behind perfectionism? The truth is, we can't move forward without feeling vulnerable, and for Dentists to show vulnerability is not easy. But if we dare to open up and be authentic we might be surprised by the positive reaction of others.

In this episode we talk about perfectionism, why Dentists continue to impose the pressure of perfectionism on themselves, how that leads them to frustration in so many ways, and we give you some tools to deal with the perfectionism trap we all fall into.

"We have to stay very grounded, but at the same time aim for the stars" Phil Stutz.

Our inspiration for this episode came from watching "Stutz", a beautiful film by Jonah Hill available on Netflix. Phil Stutz is Jonah Hill’s friend and therapist, and this film invites you to explore Dr. Stutz’s Tools for life in an effort to get real, get personal, and get better. If you haven't seen it, go see it, it's worth it.

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Parul Dua Makkar. 

Parul is a fellow American dentist and the owner of PDM Family Dental in Long Island, NY.

As a Dentist, at one point or another, you’ve probably faced the challenge of how to make sure you leave work at work and not bring work stress home with you.   

In this episode we talk about: 

- The importance of the transition from holidays to work and how it could contribute to your success 

- The power of setting intentions 

- How to successfully manage the mental work-home transition  

- Effective ways of switching off after work   

Keep in mind: physical presence doesn’t always equate to mental presence. You could be sitting at your work chair but more preoccupied about a home situation than the patient at your care, or you could be at the kitchen table thinking more about the treatment that didn't go according to plan than the people eating dinner with you. That’s why transitions from work mode to personal mode are so essential.   

Our Tip: Get conscious about it and establish a healthy work-home transition activity or routine that works for you and serves you better over the long term. Because due to the mental demandings of Dentistry it's very common for Dentists to choose an unhealthy way to completely absorb mental energy to transition away from work stress like overdrinking, overeating, overspending, over-scrolling social media or binge watching netflix.  

We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a comment, connect with us in social media or email us directly at mindfuldentistry@gmail.com 

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

All the best, 

Manuela and Jorge André  

In this episode we welcome international lecturer, tech entrepreneur and mental health in dentistry advocate, Dr. Kyle Stanley.

Dr. Kyle Stanley, named "The Next Generation of Cosmetic Dentistry" by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, “The Top 10 Young Educators in Dentistry” by the Seattle Study Club, and "World's Top 100 Doctors in Dentistry" graduated from USC and then went on to complete a dental implant residency and dental implant specialty in Brazil. He is a researcher who has published in some of the top dental journals about esthetics, implants, and plastic surgery topics. With his company Pearl, he is changing the way patients are treated through artificial intelligence and is a leader in this field. Dr. Stanley is the most prominent advocate of mental health in dentistry and through his Light Side community has helped countless dentists reduce stress and anxiety. He maintains a private practice in Beverly Hills where he focuses on implant surgery and prosthetics. 

In our conversation we talked about:

- Why mental health is still a taboo topic in dentistry

- The Light Side Course: how it started and how it has evolved, how it helps dentists to overcome stress and burnout

- The right mindset in dentistry

- Work-life balance and how dentists can live a more successful and balanced life

- The future of Dentistry - how can AI help life quality of dentists

Here are all work related links and social media contacts of Dr Kyle Stanley:

In the first episode of 2023 we talk about the importance of taking time off in Dentistry.

Due to Dentistry being a very stressful profession all dentists feel the need to take real breaks and rest. The need to press pause and slowdown is not only about physically stopping but, more importantly, the desire to put a stop to the incessant internal agitation that seems to control the state of dentists lives.

The goal is to get away from your normal schedule and take time to do something just for yourself.

Taking a trip (short or long), getting away from the weekend every now and then, going to a retreat, these are all activities that can make a huge difference in your life.

They can help you disconnect, relax and feel rejuvenated.

You can have a break from work, from your family or even from your mind. Yes, from your mind. Our mind is brilliant and extremely useful: it gets things done, helps us solve problems, allows us to achieve our goals, enable us to learn and memorize information, and empowers us to achieve our wildest dream. However, we can get “stuck” in the goal-setting mood, and it can be difficult to let go of expectations, comparisons, or judgments of how things should be. If you give yourself the opportunity to take breaks and disconnect you will be able to connect with yourself and access your being mode. In this mode there is no need to monotonized, evaluate, judge or compare. Instead, the focus is “accepting” and “allowing” what is, instead of changing it. This brings a sense of freedom and freshness to life and you can take these insights to your work.

Taking a break also changes our perspective on life and work: not only you get to know yourself better, but you also realize that the world didn’t end, and is still the same when you get back. You return and appreciate everyone and everything even more and you will move forward with peace and clarity.

Go ahead and give yourself the happy, healthy pause you deserve this year!

We hope you enjoy it.   

We would love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave a comment, dm or email us. Your comments and messages will help us to know you and our profession a little better, so that we can offer real value in return. And if you liked it don't forget to subscribe.     

Second part of our conversation on how to cope with failure in dentistry.

As dentists, we all have times when we have to cope with failure.  

Some of us seem much more able to pick themselves up after these experiences than others, but usually we find it hard to cope. To develop some positive habits and skills that can help overcome failure and turn it into a more positive experience is possible. In fact, we can use failure as a way to learn and improve. 

In this conversation we discuss and explain some of these skills and show how you can develop an ability to deal more gracefully with failure. Because let's face it: we all make mistakes and we all fail.  

We hope you enjoy it.  

We would love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave a comment, dm or email us. Your comments and messages will help us to know you and our profession a little better, so that we can offer real value in return. And if you liked it don't forget to subscribe to the channel.    

As dentists, we all have times when we have to cope with failure.  Some of us seem much more able to pick themselves up after these experiences than others, but usually we find it hard to cope. To develop some positive habits and skills that can help overcome failure and turn it into a more positive experience is possible. In fact, we can use failure as a way to learn and improve. In this episode we discuss and explain some of these skills and show how you can develop an ability to deal more gracefully with failure. Because let's face it: we all make mistakes and we all fail.

We hope you enjoy it.  

We would love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave a comment, dm or email us. Your comments and messages will help us to know you and our profession a little better, so that we can offer real value in return. And if you liked it don't forget to subscribe to the channel.