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:
Instagram (Dr. Hugo), Facebook (Dr. Hugo), Website, Instagram (clinic), Facebook (clinic), TikTok, 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! Follow Soft Bites on IG @softbitespodcast ( / softbitespodcast ) and follow us @mindful.dentistry & @andredolf
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!
Take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/
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Having a knowledgeable dental office manager is not only good for the dental practice but also helps the dental team succeed and grow. In this episode, Jorge Adré shares his experience, and we reflect on the benefits of having a dental office manager.
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/
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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.
In our Conscious Leadership Course in Dentistry, 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!
Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/
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We all have been there; as dentists, we all get to work with an alpha nurse at least once throughout our careers. In this conversation, we try to understand the dynamics of working with an alpha nurse from the perspective of a young dentist or a practice owner.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 IG @softbitespodcast and follow us @mindful.dentistry & @andredolf
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!
Please take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/
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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!
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 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.
Connect with António on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/antonio_roma_torres/ and on LinkedIn at https://pt.linkedin.com/in/artendo
You can listen to Art Talks podcast here http://bit.ly/4e2TUZ8
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 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/
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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:
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/
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.
Know more about Dr. Laila Hishaw work here https://diversityindentistry.org
Get the Inclusive Leadership Support Sheet here https://mailchi.mp/drlailahishaw/inclusiveleaderig
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!
Take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/
Follow us on Instagram @mindful.dentistry & @andredolf
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?
If you want to learn more about this take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/
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. And, if you like it, please subscribe!
Follow us on Instagram @mindful.dentistry & @andredolf
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.
If you want to learn more about this take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/ 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. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Follow us on Instagram @mindful.dentistry & @andredolf
Difficult conversations are hard but much needed in a dental practice if you want things to go smoothly. It seems a paradox but it's not: confrontation is part of healthy conflict resolution. Confrontation situations can be described as conversations where you are worried about an emotional reaction (either from you or from the other person). Mastering confrontation is difficult and most people have difficulty expressing how they feel in a straightforward and frank manner that resolves conflict. But you can overcome this if you positively reframe confrontation. In this episode, we talk about healthy confrontations. Confrontation does not mean shouting at someone or being rough or hurtful. It means being authentic while preserving the relationship. It usually requires a combination of assertiveness and care — firm compassion - because you want to create clarity and understanding. One insight: prepare for confrontation and make sure you are emotionally ready. Before a difficult conversation always check: do you want to achieve something positive or do you just want to be right? Are you able to listen in an attentive way to the other’s position? Have you clarified your mind so that you know what you want to say? If you want to learn more about this and how to master leadership skills in dentistry take a look at our Conscious Leadership Course here: https://softbites.online/ 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 that we can offer real value in return. And, if you like it, please subscribe! Follow us on Instagram @mindful.dentistry & @andredolf
