We let Ben have a holiday this week so here is a best bits special episode.

Team YDB have mashed together some funnies, some cringe stories and some best bits to brighten up your commute to work this Monday. There's only one way to describe the content in this episode and that is...... you guys are dirty little rat bags! But we all love it so don't stop.

Team YDB also added the bit where Ben and Claire talk about Claire's favourite topic- ANALOGIES. She said she'd write a book and so she did it. You heard it here on the podcast first in the analogies episode, when the idea to write the book was created. You can find her book on Amazon ('A Little Book of Analogies').

It would be so good if you could send the team here at YDB your favourite analogies and we will do a part 2 where we read out the ones our listeners use.

Ben isn't well recording this weeks episode, but he still made it happen. It started a conversation about coming into work sick. Would you phone in and cancel the day when you are ill? And how ill do you have to be?

A listener writes in about being shy in giving patients the bad news about disease. They felt like they are too nice and struggle to tell patients. What do Claire and Ben say about this? Do you have anything to add?

They then turn to the topic of NHS appointments and how to work in this system when appointments are short. We all know this is not ideal, but it is some peoples reality. Ben and Claire discuss the avoidance of doubt principle. Disclaimer: Claire and Ben haven't worked in an NHS system, so please look at the avoidance of doubt document for more info. See link below.

B0615-Update-to-avoidance-of-doubt-provision-of-phased-treatments-300621-.pdf

To finish, this episode was recorded on World Mental Health day, so please reach out to friends and colleagues and ask how they are. Let's look out for each other, when dentistry is an industry often known for burnout. Take care of each other

The GBT summit is 31st October in London. There are only a few tickets left. It's set to be amazing, so Ben and Claire would love to see you there. It's not just a gathering about GBT, with speakers discussing the oral microbiome, the gut microbiome to improving your worklife. This summit is for EVERYONE, GBT users or not. EMS want to add value to everyone's career. We hope you can make it.

Ben and Claire also answer a listeners query about what to do if your diary is fully booked for MONTHS. So many of you are in this position. Did you have an answer to the problem? Get in touch and tell us.

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like, comment and share with colleagues

Ben and Claire catch up on what they have been up to. Claire talks about a conversation she has had with a fellow hygienist colleague recently, who gave her some amazing tips on motivating patients. Ben decides he wants to level up and learn more about toothpaste.

Don't forget to send in your Agony Aunts and Agony Uncles. You can DM us on insta (@Yourdentalbesties), or email yourdentalbesties@outlook.com

Ben & Claire go back to stain and complete the conversation they started a few episodes ago.

The topic then turns to how do you manage a hostile patient? Has Ben ever encountered a patient who has turned nasty? Has Claire? And how would they deal with it?

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to comment what you thought about the episode. Have you ever had to deal with a patient who has been hostile towards you? Tell us your experience in the comment section.

After Ben tells us about a black widow spider living behind his honey pot, Ben and Claire discuss a situation where someone queries if you should treat a BPE 0. What is Ben and Claire's thoughts on this?

As always, thanks for listening to the pod. Send in your funnies and gross stories and if you have any queries or issues, submit them to the Agony Aunt/Agony Uncle segment of the show.

Also, would you like to hear more? Watch our for some bonus episodes coming soon. Have a great week Besties x

Ben and Claire answer a listeners query about the anxiety of running behind and feeling pressure from colleagues to stop. What do Ben and Claire say about this?

As always, a huge thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode let us know why in the comments. To those of you who share that you are listening on your socials THANKYOU, it helps us more than you know. Keep the shares coming.

And we love when you reach out. If you want to feature, or if you have an Agony Aunt or Agony Uncle request you can contact us on the @yourdentalbesties instagram or email info@yourdentalbesties.com

Ben and Claire start the way they start best- gross stories! But this time they are from the USA. Prepare yourself for bigger, better, grosser. The USA listeners did not disappoint.

Then they discuss a topic sent in for the Agony Aunt/ Agony Uncle segment- how to give LA painlessly. Ben LOVES this topic and gives some valuable advice. This bit is a 'do not miss' part of the podcast.

Thank you for listening. Please don't forget to like, comment and share if you feel like you get a lot from listening to this silly pair every Monday at 6am

How have they not discussed staining yet? Something we see daily. Todays episode is the day. Well, the day they discuss stain part 1. The topic is so big there is a staining part 2 later in the season.

Todays episode starts with the game true or floss (truth or false incase you didn't get it)! Play along at home. How well did you do, let us know.

Then the stain discussion- from stannous to chromogenic bacteria to swimming.

Please don't forget to like, comment and share if you enjoy this podcast. It helps us so much

Claire and Ben want to say a HUGE thankyou for still being here at season 5. Or for joining us here at season 5.

If you are an OG- welcome back.

If you are newbie here- a warm WELCOME from team YDB.

Claire and Ben start off by talking about a little trip Ben took recently to Vienna, followed by a discussion on sustainability in dentistry. We are not quite sure how this led to them thinking about taking their own trip for medical tourism, before they swiftly talked themselves back of it again when they came to their senses. It made for funny listening though.

Ben finishes with some gross stories, the bit we all love.

If you like this episode please do like comment and share. Don't forget to subscribe.

Also, team YDB want to say a huge thank you for being patient with a temporary change in recording. Claire and Ben have a busy work period at the minute, but they are committed to getting content out for the pod. Because getting into the studio is tricky at the minute due to their schedules, we have had to record remotely. Studio sessions and video content will commence again soon, so please bare with us for now.

Love, Claire & Ben xx

Claire & Ben play never have I ever. Make sure you play along (safely) as they spin the wheel and spill all their secrets.

This see's the end of season 4! What do you want to see in season 5? Do let us know. We want to bring more value to your commute to work.

See you next season Besties. Team YDB appreciates you

Ben and Claire start with should a patient pay for a second round of periodontal therapy if the first one fails? They talk about why this assumption happens? Have you ever had patients think it is because you have failed if their perio is not stable after 1 visit?

Ben then goes on to discuss behaviour change in our patients and psychology. This leads on to our patients feeling our energy and how to make sure we don't let our energy effect the appointment.

Claire talks about a case where she helped a patient by understanding the link between endometriosis and oral health. It does help us to treat our patients when we know how to think outside the box.

Do you have any dilemmas? Email yourdentalbesties@outlook.com and we will answer your agony aunt/uncle dilemmas

After some seriously GROSS stories, Ben and Claire discuss boundaries and self care so that you can enjoy your career. On the Facebook forum we keep seeing people feeling burnt out. We need to see what we can do to reduce this in our profession.

Do you create boundaries at work? Ben talks about how and why this is important in your career. How can you create these and be more assertive? Listen to find out.

Do you have time off and do you prioritise self care? It's important for you to do this to have a happy long career in dentistry.

Please do like comment and share if you enjoyed this episode.

Ben & Claire start with Ben's rant about the lack of post grad courses available to hygienists and therapists. But this quickly develops into a conversation about their experiences of getting onto their hygiene and therapy courses.

Ben gives some absolute GOLD and valuable information if you know anyone wanting to apply to become a hygienist or therapist, or if you are a dental nurse thinking of applying.

What was your experience when applying? Is there any advice you can give listeners who are thinking of this for their next step? Comment below.

As always, please do like comment and share to help the podcast grow.

Ben and Claire have a LOAD of funnies and gross stories to share with you. Be warned- some are very gross.

Then they discuss the Oral-B initiative 'Disability Champion'. Have you heard of the Oral B BIG RETHINK? Find the link here... Oral-B BIG RETHINK | Oral-B

Think you qualify? Sign up to get yourself registered as a Disability Champion practice.

Did you enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments. Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. And it means a lot if you share too, so your colleagues and friends can listen too

Trigger Warning- this episode has mention of suicide

Here are some further and more accurate details from the story mentioned in the true crime segment for those thirsty for MORE (please note- some details may be in-accurate in the podcast recording).

Colin Howell (born 14th March 1959) was a deeply religious dentist in Coleraine, he was married with 4 children and owned a dental practice in Ballymoney. In the 1980's he embarked on an affair with Hazel Buchanan (a Sunday school teacher at his church), which ended when they were discovered by their spouses.

However, in 1991 they began their affair again, but this time it would end in deadly circumstances. Colin decided to hatch a plan which would make it look like their spouses had died in a suicide pact. Colin gassed Trevor and Lesley (the spouses) as they slept, with carbon monoxide and staged them in the car to make it look like a double suicide.

After the deaths, Colin received a hefty life insurance payout, but lost a considerable amount in a scam. He later went on to believe that this (and the subsequent death of his 22 year old son) were punishments from God and so he was driven to confess all to the police in 2009. Hazel, who at this point had also re-married and had settled into a new life, leaving all of that behind her, found herself dragged into Colin's confession and arrested. Both were found guilty of murder and sentenced to prison.

Recently in early 2025, new evidence has since come to light about Hazel's state of mind at the time of the murder, as she attempts to appeal and reduce her prison sentence.

If you enjoyed the true crime segment of this podcast episode, please let us know in the comments. Team YDB may very well research another one soon. Let us know.

In more traditional YDB style, Ben and Claire also answer an Agony Aunt/Agony Uncle about filling a quiet diary. How would you go about it?

It means a lot to the team here at YDB if you could comment, subscribe, like and share. It allows us to make more content and keep developing this podcast.

Ben & Claire answer a couple of your questions about how to get patients to book more frequently or for longer appointments.

Then Ben asks Claire some quick fire questions. She has 1 minute to answer as if she is saying it to a patient. Can she do it? Could you do it?

Claire asks you to send in your number plate acronyms after her failed attempt to play the number plate game with Ben.

Ben starts with the game 'what am I?' and Claire has to guess what it is. Can you guess first?

The topic for todays episode is STI's and oral health. A very candid conversation about the links with sexually transmitted disease. Upfront and honest as we tell it as it is. This is a conversation that needs to be had and we should be talking about it with confidence. After all, we could be the ones recognising symptoms.

Would you feel comfortable having this conversation? Answer in the comments.

Ben and Claire are at it again this week, talking all things hygiene and therapy. Todays episode includes diary zoning, dealing with growing patient lists and waiting times, should you charge more for hand scaling? Plus much more.

Comment for with your ideas and solutions below

Ben and Claire play the world words game, followed by a double Agony Aunt/Agony Uncle.

This weeks dilemmas include a hygienist who feels undermined by her colleagues and a hygienist who worries she is too gentle compared to hygienists before her.

What advice would you give? Comment below