The Brush Up

Before Yousif Alsaoor was a dental student, a bullet went around his head in the womb. His family fled Iraq, rebuilt their lives in rural Australia, and never looked back. In this episode of The Brush Up, host Michael Klein sits down with Yousif, a fourth-year Bachelor of Dental Science student at Charles Sturt University in Orange and the President of the Student Dental Association for 2026. Yous...

What actually happens when you call ADA NSW Advisory Services? And should you call even if nothing’s gone wrong yet? In this episode of The Brush Up, host Michael Klein sits down with Dr Vicki Rozos, Head of Advisory Services at ADA NSW, to demystify the service that many members don’t fully understand until they need it most. Vicki shares how advisory supports dentists at every stage of their car...

At some point in your career, you'll collaborate with an oral health therapist. If you haven’t already, it’s important to understand what they do, how they think, and the value they bring to a team. Welcome to Fresh-Out Fridays, where we sit down with early-career dental professionals to discuss the real-life experiences that academic study doesn’t fully prepare you for. In this episode, we s...

There's a moment in every new graduate's journey when you realise the textbook doesn't have all the answers. When you're faced with a complex case, a nervous patient, or an unexpected complication, you suddenly have to think for yourself. This is Fresh-Out Fridays, where we sit down with early-career dentists who share the unfiltered truth about navigating those early-career mo...

What motivates a student to move from the United States to Australia to pursue a career in dentistry?  This is Next Gen, where we explore the diverse paths dental students take during their training. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Caroline, a second-year dental student at the University of Sydney, to discuss the transition from international life to the Australian dental system. Followin...

Remember that first time you drove alone on your red P plates? That mix of freedom and sheer terror? That's exactly how Haydyn Bathurst describes his first days treating patients without a tutor looking over his shoulder. This is Fresh-Out Fridays, where we sit down with early-career dentists who share the unfiltered truth about navigating those early-career moments that dental school didn&ap...

What happens when four dental students start filming TikToks to make studying tooth morphology less boring - and accidentally become the most recognisable faces in Australian dental education? This is Next Gen, where we explore the diverse paths dental students take during their training. In this episode, we're sitting down with Mustafa, Chris, Harish, and Troy - better known as Dropkick Dent...

What happens when a last-minute acceptance letter changes everything? When you have 24 hours to pack up your life in Canada and chase a dental school dream in Australia? This is Next Gen, where we explore the unique journeys of dental students as they prepare for practice. In this episode, we're diving into the unexpected path of Austen Oviatt, a Canadian-born fourth-year dental student at th...

Dental school teaches you the technical skills, but what about the emotional reality of patient care? The weight of making decisions that affect someone's smile, their confidence, their daily life - and doing it all whilst you're still learning the ropes. This is Next Gen, where we sit down with dental students preparing for the transition from textbooks to real-world practice. In this e...

Starting any new job comes with its challenges, but stepping into a dental practice as a fresh graduate brings a unique blend of excitement and terror. The impostor syndrome, and that nagging voice asking, “Am I really qualified to be doing this?” This is Fresh-Out Fridays, where we sit down with early-career dentists who share the unfiltered truth about navigating those early-career moments that...

In this third and final instalment of The Dental Diaries, we delve into the crucial years following those initial career steps with early career dentists Anthony, Yasmin, and Sarah as they share their experiences of finding their professional stride. Learn about the transformative power of mentorship—both receiving and providing it—and how these dentists have moved from focusing solely on their ow...

In this second instalment of The Dental Diaries, we explore the pivotal transition from dental student to practising dentist with early career dentists Anthony, Yasmin, and Sarah and learn more about their journey beyond graduation. Discover how they secured their first positions, navigated those nerve-wracking initial days with patients, and developed the confidence essential for clinical practic...

Join us as we uncover the human stories behind the dental profession, beginning with Part One's intimate conversation with three recent graduates – a husband-and-wife team from the University of Sydney and a career-changer from Charles Sturt University – as they share their experiences navigating dental education and offer valuable tips for thriving in university. "The Dental Diaries&quo...

Dr Zanab Malik, in a recent interview with ADA NSW's Claire Schifter, emphasized the significance of equipping graduates with the adequate knowledge and abilities required to cater to patients with special needs. Despite the desire of numerous clinicians to aid such patients, their exposure and experience may not be sufficient. To address this concern, Dr Malik is hosting a webinar titled &qu...

In this episode, Kylie Robb from ADA NSW talks to Dr Ed Boulton, an experienced dentist, about how to establish a great working relationship with your dental assistant. Dr Boulton shares his tips and experience on how to achieve professional happiness through this collaboration.  You'll learn about empowering your dental assistant to support you in an efficient appointment and tips on what to...

Meet the latest Student Dental Association Presidents taking on student life and the leadership challenge. Rachel Brown from The University of Sydney and Jason Zhang from Charles Sturt University chat to ADA NSW's Marketing and Communications Manager Elise Ross. They talk about their unique experiences which have taught them the value of resilience and adaptability, continuous learning and co...

Regardless of your stage of life, buying your first home is a big financial decision and can be a very daunting process. There are so many additional things to consider than just finding your dream house and the best home loan to suit your needs. Today we are joined by ADA NSW Recent Graduates chair, Dr Cathleen Dong and BOQ Specialist home loan finance specialist, Chris Aylward, to unpack and exp...

This episode features two future leaders in dentistry – Zoe Watson, president of the Student Dental Association at Charles Sturt University and Anushka Fernando, president of SUDA at The University of Sydney. The pair speak with ADA NSW Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Faiza Ahmad, about their experiences as dental students, career aspirations, work and life balance, opportunities for de...

As we acknowledge International Women’s Day in March, this episode features two future leaders in dentistry. Stephanie Primc, president of the Student Dental Association at Charles Sturt University and Annie Johnson, president of SUDA at The University of Sydney speak with ADA NSW Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Faiza Ahmad, about their experiences as dental students, the challenges of...

Thinking of buying your own dental practice? Not sure where to start or who to turn to? Join ADA NSW Communication Manager, Kate Miranda, as she chats with Luke Truscott from BOQ Specialist about what is involved in buying a practice, the issues to consider, and some of the risks and challenges of practice ownership. If you would like further information about how BOQ Specialist can assist you, pl...

Marketing for your dental practice is an often misunderstood task and ensuring you are not wasting time or money is paramount to getting the best possible return on investment. ADA NSW CPD Marketing Executive Adam Szabo speaks with Carolyn S Dean, author of ‘Fully booked – Dental marketing secrets for a full appointment book’ and Managing Director at My Dental Marketing. Carolyn offers her insight...

Effective leadership and how you manage your team is crucial to a successful dental practice. So how do you get the best out of your colleagues? What are the dos and don’ts for ensuring your practice reaches its potential? ADA NSW’s Kate Miranda investigates this issue with David Neal and Jonathan Clark from The Eighth Mile Consulting group. If you want to stay up to date with the latest developme...

This week’s podcast is part eight of a series of episodes of presentations recorded during the recent ADA NSW CPD Program “How to Refer, When to Refer”. This series relates to a dental practitioner's scope of practice and how to manage a patient’s best interests. These presentations focus on the duty of care, the importance of recognising one’s own limitations and referring patients to others...

This week’s podcast is part seven of a series of episodes of presentations recorded during the recent ADA NSW CPD Program “How to Refer, When to Refer”. This series relates to a dental practitioner's scope of practice and how to manage patient’s best interests. These presentations focus on duty of care, the importance in recognising one’s own limitations and to refer patients to others more q...

This week’s podcast is part six of a series of episodes of presentations recorded during the recent ADA NSW CPD Program “How to Refer, When to Refer”. This series relates to a dental practitioner's scope of practice and how to manage patient’s best interests. These presentations focus on duty of care, the importance in recognising one’s own limitations and to refer patients to others more qua...