Protrusive Dental Podcast

Filling, stainless steel crown, pulpotomy or extraction — how do you actually decide on a deciduous tooth? Why is the lower first primary molar the one that always seems to flare up? When should you reach for silver diamine fluoride instead of the drill — and when is a child’s cooperation telling you to change the plan entirely? And how do you actually do a pulpotomy, step by step, without it blowing up under the crown? This is a paediatric dentistry masterclass with Dr Nidhi Kotak — “The Baby Tooth Dentist,”. It’s built for the general dentist who treats children and wants clearer rules: when to fill versus crown, how to read the radiograph, silver diamine fluoride, local anaesthetic and behaviour guidance, isolation, and a full pulpotomy and stainless steel crown technique. The through-line is simple — in children you decide fast, protect the airway, and treat for predictability rather than heroics. https://youtu.be/3OscfwF7SIQ Watch PDP274 on YouTube Protrusive Dental Pearl: Strategic Flexibility You cannot be rigid when treating children. The mindset shift is to stop asking “what should be done for this child?” and start asking “what can be done for this child?” With children you have to be fast and efficient, and curveballs are constant — sometimes the parent is harder to manage than the child. So the plan has to bend. The worked example: you planned a conventional prepped stainless steel crown, but cooperation drops mid-appointment. Rather than abandon the visit, switch to a no-prep whole-crown approach and protect the tooth anyway. It stays in the child’s best interest — and it’s far kinder to your own mental health. It’s a mindset worth carrying into all of dentistry, not just children’s. What You’ll Take From This Episode When to fill vs crown — the surface rule for baby molars, why crowns are so predictable in children, and where composites still work. The “D” devil tooth — why the lower first primary molar flares up, and why mesial caries on a D is an automatic crown. Pulpotomy indications — the signs that say vital pulpotomy, the ones that say extraction, and why a pulp exposure in a primary tooth is an automatic pulpotomy. SDF, sedation and isolation — arresting decay without drilling, matching sedation to the child, and protecting the airway. The pulpotomy technique — a full step-by-step from caries removal to cementing the stainless steel crown, including the modern medicament choice. Highlights of This Episode 00:00  TEASER 00:59  Pediatric Dentistry for GDPs: The Strategic Flexibility Mindset 07:24  Why GDPs Struggle Treating Children 08:19  When to Fill vs When to Crown a Baby Tooth 12:18  Class II vs Stainless Steel Crown: The Surface Rule 13:41  Reading Pediatric Radiographs & When to Take Bitewings 19:15  SDF vs Fluoride Varnish: When to Use Each 22:37  Resin Infiltration (Icon) for Children’s Teeth 25:15  Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth: When It’s Indicated 26:19  The “D” Devil Tooth: Why Mesial Caries Means a Crown 27:31  Hall Crowns and the Modified Whole Crown Technique 27:48  Midroll 38:39  Local Anaesthetic & Behaviour Guidance in Children 40:38  Sedation Options: Oral, Nitrous & Intranasal 46:22  Rubber Dam vs Isolite: Isolation for Kids 48:59  How to Do a Pulpotomy: Step-by-Step Technique 58:03  OUTRO Dr Nidhi Kotak is a dual US and Canadian board-certified paediatric dentist — a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.  Follow Dr. Nidhi for more paediatric dentistry tips 👉  @babytoothdentist on Instagram Want more? If you enjoyed this episode, check out: Zirconia vs Metal Hall Crowns vs Conventional with Dr Tim Keys – PDP227 #PDPMainEpisodes #EndoRestorative Listen, Subscribe, Earn CPD Listen: Subscribe to the Protrusive Dental Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. This episode is eligible for 1.0 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes C  AGD Subject Code: 430 Pediatric Dentistry. Aim & Learning Outcomes Aim: To give dental practitioners a clear, decision-led approach to restorative paediatric dentistry — how to choose between filling, crowning, pulpotomy and extraction, how to manage caries conservatively, and how to carry out a pulpotomy and stainless steel crown safely. Learning Outcomes — by the end of this episode, dentists will be able to: Differentiate the presentations that indicate a direct restoration, a stainless steel crown, a vital pulpotomy, or an extraction in the primary dentition, using clinical and radiographic findings. Describe minimally invasive and behaviour-management options in children — silver diamine fluoride, fluoride varnish, resin infiltration, local anaesthesia, sedation and isolation — and select them appropriately for the individual child. Apply a step-by-step technique for a vital pulpotomy and stainless steel crown in a primary molar, including the current choice of medicament and cementation.

Ever fancied teaching dental students part time… but no real idea how you’d actually get in? Are you the kind of person teaching would energise — or quietly drain? Is a PGCert in dental education actually worth it, or just wishy-washy theory? And the honest question nobody asks out loud: does it pay anything? This is an Interference Cast — the non-clinical arm of the podcast — with Dr Rima Hussain, a general dentist who teaches restorative dentistry to undergraduates at King’s a couple of days a week. It’s a candid look at what a career in dental education actually involves: how to get in, who thrives and who burns out, what the work is really like, and the honest truth about the pay and the rewards. The bigger theme: dentistry is a career you can mould in endless directions — and for the right person, teaching is one of the most energising of them. https://youtu.be/DzmcM-SbD68 Watch IC076 on YouTube What You’ll Take From This Episode The full self-assessment and the step-by-step route into a teaching role are in the Premium Notes. Here’s the shape of what we cover: Are you built for the classroom? — the two-camp self-check (energised vs drained) that predicts whether teaching will recharge you or wear you down. How to actually land a role — the ‘BDJ Jobs’ plus pick-up-the-phone route, and why “who you know” so often cuts through the application process. Relatability as a strength — why being closer to a student’s level can beat decades of experience for an absolute beginner. Back to basics — the “monkey see, monkey do” risk from YouTube and AI, and what the tutor’s real job becomes. The honest pay-and-balance picture — why you don’t do it for the money, what you do get, and how teaching and practice keep each other fresh. Highlights of This Episode 00:00  Teaser 01:08  Should You Teach Dentistry? How to Know If It’s for You 04:39  How a General Dentist Gets Into Dental Education 06:15  Signs You’re Suited to Teaching Dentistry 08:52  Is a PGCert in Dental Education Worth It? 12:07  How to Land a Clinical Teaching Post at a Dental School 14:38  Why a Relatable Tutor Beats Decades of Experience 16:52  How Dental Students Have Changed Since COVID 19:20  Is Social Media and AI Helping or Hurting Dental Students? 21:55  Midroll 26:43  Why “Back to Basics” Beats Chasing Advanced Techniques 29:20  How to Get a Teaching (or Associate) Job: Pick Up the Phone 31:50  Why Dental Tutors Quit After Six Months 36:29  The Most Rewarding Part of Teaching Dentistry 38:46  Teaching, Practice and Pay: How to Avoid Burnout 44:39  Outro From the Guest Dr Rima Hussain is a general dentist who also teaches restorative (conservative) dentistry to undergraduates at King’s College London — a route she fell into via tutoring as a teenager and has been in since 2019. Her advice for anyone curious: you’re probably already teaching in some form, so try it; the worst case is you find it isn’t for you. 👉  Reach Rima on Instagram References & Further Reading Mentioned in this episode: Rath T. StrengthsFinder 2.0. Gallup Press, 2007. The strengths-assessment book referenced for the “Learner” theme and the idea of building your career around your natural strengths. “Learner” is one of its 34 themes; the assessment is now delivered as CliftonStrengths. BDJ Jobs. The British Dental Journal jobs board where clinical tutor and academic posts are advertised, usually with short application windows. Want more? If you enjoyed this episode, check out: 2 Years Out of Dental School – Insights for New Grads – IC066 #InterferenceCast #CareerDevelopment #BeyondDentistry Listen, Subscribe, Earn CPD This episode is eligible for 0.5 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes B  AGD Subject Code: 770 Self-Improvement  Aim & Learning Outcomes Aim: To help dentists evaluate a part-time career in dental education — what the role involves, how to obtain one, and how to sustain it alongside clinical practice. Learning Outcomes — by the end of this episode, dentists will be able to: Identify the personal attributes and expectations that distinguish dentists who thrive in clinical teaching from those who do not. Describe the practical routes into a dental-school teaching post, including where posts are advertised and how a direct, proactive approach can work. Recognise the workload, financial and work-life-balance realities of part-time teaching, and strategies to avoid burnout while balancing teaching and practice.

The most important part of your surgery isn’t plugged in, mounted, or calibrated. It’s the person standing beside you. Have you ever dreaded walking into a beautiful practice with lovely patients — purely because of who you share the surgery with? What do you actually do, in the moment, when your assistant rolls their eyes at a request for rubber dam? And should you be friends with your assistant at all — or does that cross a line you’ll regret? This is an Interference Cast — a non-clinical but deeply practical episode — with Dr. Sarah Braun, a dentist in Australia and a fellow Protrusive Guidance member who DM’d to suggest this very topic. No course, no book, nothing to sell: just two clinicians comparing notes (and the odd scar) on the one relationship that quietly shapes your whole working life. It sits inside this month’s theme of the relationships that support your career. https://youtu.be/OyztRyPpcHM Watch IC075 on YouTube What You’ll Take From This Episode The full breakdown is in the Premium Notes; here’s the shape of the thinking that runs through the episode: Engagement is the whole game — the assistant relationship sets the mood of the room, the patient’s experience, and whether good people stay. Speak their language — appreciation only lands if it’s delivered in the form that particular person actually values. Appreciation is a verb — specific, named praise lands far harder than a vague “good job.” Let them, let me — you don’t control how someone reacts in the moment; you only control your response to it. Lead the room — dentistry is a performance, and the room takes its emotional cue from whoever is leading it. Highlights of this episode: 00:00 TEASER01:13 Why This One Relationship Can Make or Break You03:49 A Non-Clinical Interference Cast: What to Expect04:47 Meet the Guest: Nine Years In, City to Country07:01 A Week in Private Practice09:15 How Much Does the Dentist–Assistant Relationship Matter?11:01 Engagement at Work: The Gallup Lens12:30 People Remember How You Made Them Feel14:21 When the Relationship Turns Toxic15:23 The Power Imbalance You Might Not See18:11 The First-Day Conversation20:52 Keeping Your Assistant Engaged22:23 Specific Praise Beats a Vague “Good Job”23:55 Midroll27:37 You Can Only Control Yourself29:34 The Eye-Roll Moment: Let Them, Let Me31:23 Off Days vs Patterns32:12 Appreciation, Gifting & Speaking Their Language35:32 Run the Relationship Like It Matters36:48 Friends With Your Assistant, or Keep Your Distance?39:08 A Best Friend at Work: The Engagement Link41:15 Advice for New Grads: Start With Time Management44:26 Teaching as a Tool: Show Your Working Out48:05 Wrap-Up & a Healthy Debate48:37 CPD Outro & the Protrusive Vault References & Further Reading: Sources and further reading from this episode: Chapman G. The Five Love Languages. Northfield Publishing, 1992. The five ways people give and receive appreciation — words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts, and physical touch — applied here to the dentist–assistant relationship. Robbins M, Robbins S. The Let Them Theory. Hay House, 2024. The “let them / let me” reframe for releasing what you can’t control and owning your own response. Rath T. StrengthsFinder 2.0. Gallup Press, 2007. The CliftonStrengths assessment; “Learner” is one of its talent themes, referenced in the discussion of teaching as a way to engage your assistant. Gallup employee-engagement research. The Gallup Q12 engagement survey (including the validated “I have a best friend at work” item) and Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace reports. Source of the workforce-engagement framing in this episode. Exact figures vary by year — see Reviewer Note. Want more? If you enjoyed this episode, check out: How to Find a Mentor in 5 Seconds Flat! – IC058.  #InterferenceCast #CareerDevelopment #Communication #BeyondDentistry Listen, Subscribe, Earn CPD: This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes A and B AGD Subject Code: 550 Practice Management and Human Relations Aim & Learning Outcomes: Aim: To help dental practitioners understand and strengthen the working relationship between dentist and dental assistant — recognising its impact on team engagement, patient experience and personal job satisfaction, and building practical habits to improve it. Learning Outcomes — by the end of this episode, dentists will be able to: Explain how the working relationship between a dentist and a dental assistant affects team engagement, the patient experience, and clinician wellbeing. Identify practical strategies for communicating appreciation and recognition in ways suited to the individual, and for involving an assistant according to their preferences. Apply self-management and emotional-regulation approaches to leading the surgery and responding constructively to interpersonal friction.

Rotary or reciprocating files — which should you actually be using? Is one safer than the other? Does reciprocation really reduce file separation? Are you choosing your system because it suits the canal anatomy, or because it is simply the one you were taught? Endodontic file systems can feel like a maze of brands, tapers, alloys, motions and marketing claims. But beneath all that noise, the real question is much more practical: what is your file doing inside the canal, and what compromise are you accepting? In this episode, Dr Samuel Johnson returns to unpack the Endo Showdown: rotary versus reciprocating files. We cover file motion, glide paths, shaping philosophy, NiTi metallurgy, cyclic fatigue, torsional fatigue, and why no system is perfect. https://youtu.be/HfWDBbNgjsA Watch PDP270 on YouTube Protrusive Dental Pearl A palliative root canal can be useful for an unrestorable tooth if disinfecting the canal allows infection to heal and natural bone to recover before extraction and future implant planning. ⚠️ Do not dismiss root canal treatment purely because the tooth is not a long-term functional restoration. ✅ Where appropriate, consider whether endodontic disinfection could improve the future implant site by allowing natural bone healing. Key Takeaways The purpose of shaping is not simply to scrape canal walls; it is to create space for irrigant flow. Irrigation is the most important part of root canal disinfection. Rotary files move in a continuous 360-degree rotation. Reciprocating files cut in one direction and reverse before excessive stress builds up. Modern reciprocation is designed to cut, release and gradually progress apically. File choice is not just about motion; metallurgy, taper, design and operator experience all matter. NiTi hand files with strong shape memory may be problematic in curved canals because they want to straighten. Martensitic heat-treated files are more flexible and can better follow canal curvature. Unwinding flutes are a warning sign that a file may be close to separation. Inspect files regularly during treatment, especially in curved, calcified or difficult canals. A glide path is essential before introducing larger rotary or reciprocating files. Without a glide path, a shaping file may create its own path, risking ledging, transportation or perforation. “Grabby” files pull themselves into the canal; this can be useful in experienced hands but risky if forced. Reciprocating systems can feel simpler and safer, but they are not foolproof. Cyclic fatigue happens when a file repeatedly bends around a curve until microcracks form. Torsional fatigue happens when part of the file binds while the motor continues to turn. Highlights of the episode: 00:00 Teaser 00:47 Introduction 02:13 Protrusive Dental Pearl: Palliative Root Canal Treatment 05:30 Main Question: Rotary vs Reciprocating Files 06:31 Hybrid File Motions 08:19 File Choice Is More Than Motion 10:26 Purpose of Shaping in Endodontics 11:10 Chemo-Mechanical Preparation 11:34 Rotary Motion in Root Canal Treatment 11:45 Origins of Reciprocation 12:21 Balanced Force Technique 18:00 NiTi K-Files vs Stainless Steel K-Files 22:37 Practical Advice: Inspect the File 23:40 Rotary Can Also Be a One File System 24:24 Reciprocation and Sense of Safety 24:47 “Grabby” Files 24:53 Midroll 33:54 Choosing Between Rotary and Reciprocating 35:20 Cyclic Fatigue 37:41 Endo Radar Pro Ads 40:20 Torque and RPM in Endodontics 41:41 Why Reciprocation Advances 42:56 Debris Extrusion in RCT 43:34 Benefits of Rotary Systems 44:13 Tactile Feedback in Root Canal Treatment 45:21 Outro Want more? Check out previous episode with Dr. Samuel Johnson: Working Lengths and Troubleshooting Apex Locators – PDP216 🦷 Looking for an endomotor? Upgrade your endodontic workflow with the Woodpecker Endo Radar Pro. Head to protrusive.co.uk/endomotor and use coupon code PROTRUSIVE at checkout to claim an exclusive discount and your choice of complimentary file system. #PDPMainEpisodes #EndoRestorative This episode is eligible for 0.5 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes CAGD Subject Code: 070 Endodontics Aim: To improve dentists’ understanding of rotary and reciprocating endodontic file systems, including file motion, glide path creation, file metallurgy, fatigue mechanisms, irrigation principles, and practical steps to reduce procedural risks. Dentists will be able to – Understand the clinical differences between rotary and reciprocating file motions and how these may influence endodontic workflow Recognise key risk factors for file separation, including cyclic fatigue, torsional fatigue, file distortion and inappropriate file use Apply practical principles around glide path creation, irrigation, file inspection and system selection in endodontic treatment

If you showed the same bitewing to 10 dentists, would they all agree on whether to pick up the drill? Why does the word monitoring mean nothing to a patient — and how does swapping it for active surveillance change everything from your notes to your indemnity to your government policy meetings? Is it overtreatment to act on an E2 lesion — or is “watch and wait” actually the lazy answer dressed up as minimally invasive? And what should you actually do with AI caries detection that flags shadows your eye doesn’t see? In this episode, Professor Avijit Banerjee — Professor of Cariology & Operative Dentistry at King’s College London, Honorary Consultant at Guy’s & St Thomas’, and First Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the College of General Dentistry — sits down with Jaz for what is genuinely one of the most important caries conversations on the podcast. Part one of two. Avijit doesn’t do soft answers. The drill-fill-bill model is broken. “Monitoring” needs to go. “Treatment planning” is antiquated terminology medics dropped twenty-five years ago. And AI in caries diagnosis? Useful — but the moment it gets things wrong, you are the one with indemnity, not the software. What you walk away with is a framework (MIOC), a decision filter (three factors that decide whether to pick up a bur), and a vocabulary shift you can implement tomorrow. Part two covers peptides, SDF, hydroxyapatite, stepwise excavation, and managing caries in xerostomia. https://youtu.be/YriLo8_hXNw Watch PDP268 on YouTube Protrusive Dental Pearl: Delete the Word “Monitor” from Your Vocabulary Stop saying monitor. Start saying active surveillance. ⚠️ Active surveillance must not mean passive delay — document your reasoning, risk assessment, and what would trigger intervention. ✅ Explain it to patients as structured, proactive care: clinical checks, radiographs, risk review, behaviour support, and timely action if things change. Key Takeaways Minimum intervention oral care is bigger than minimally invasive dentistry. MIOC is prevention-based, person-focused, susceptibility-related, and delivered by the whole oral healthcare team. MID is only one part of MIOC: operative dentistry when a tooth actually needs intervention. The four MIOC domains are: identify the problem, prevent lesions and control disease, provide minimally invasive operative care, then reassess. A care plan is more useful than a treatment plan because it includes justification, prevention, behaviour change, and review. Ask patients what matters to you, not just what’s the matter with you. Cavitation, cleansability, and lesion activity should guide whether to intervene operatively. A cavitated lesion that cannot be cleaned is much more likely to remain active. Smooth surface lesions may sometimes be made cleansable without conventional drilling. Restorations are not just about filling holes; they help recreate a cleansable tooth surface. There is no single perfect caries detection technology — clinical examination and good radiographs remain fundamental. If using NIRI, fluorescence, scanners, or AI, understand how the technology works and where it fails. AI should support diagnosis, not replace clinical judgement. For uncertain early lesions, triangulate: clinical findings, radiographs, risk, technology, and patient factors. Proximal resin infiltration has a role in the right patient and situation, especially as part of a wider prevention-led strategy. Highlights of This Episode 00:00 Teaser 02:17 Protrusive Dental Pearl: Active Surveillance, Not Monitoring 09:14 Minimum Intervention Oral Care vs Minimally Invasive Dentistry 11:28 Core Principles of MIOC 11:48 Domain 1: Identify the Problem 12:46 Domain 2: Prevention of Lesions and Control of Disease 13:18 Microinvasive Care Options 14:41 Domain 3: Minimally Invasive Operative Dentistry 16:38 Why “Active Surveillance” Matters 18:24 MIOC as a Practical Framework 19:43 Applying MIOC in Patient Communication 22:38 Sustainability & Salutogenesis 29:05 When to Pick Up a Drill 30:23 Biofilm as the Engine of Caries 31:33 Purpose of a Restoration in Caries Management 36:13 Caries Detection Technologies 42:44 Watch and Wait vs Detect and Manage 01:02:52 Outro Professor Avijit Banerjee’s recommended reading and ongoing work: New textbook: A Clinical Guide to Advanced Minimum Intervention Restorative Dentistry (Banerjee A., Elsevier, 2024) — the most comprehensive single reference for modern MIOC and MID. 👉  uk.elsevierhealth.com (ISBN 978-0-443-10971-3) 🦷 Interested in Proximal Resin Infiltration? Don’t miss out! DMG Icon Proximal discount for dental professionals at protrusive.co.uk/dmg Explore The Iconic Method with Cat Edney: a free 1-hour webinar on 24 June 2026, followed by a hands-on 1-day Birmingham course on 4 July 2026 covering Icon resin infiltration, tooth whitening and NIRI-guided enamel management, with verifiable CPD available. Loved This Episode? Try this next: Is Caries Detector Dye BS? – PDP138 #PDPMainEpisodes #BreadandButterDentistry  Listen & Earn CPD This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes A and C AGD Subject Code: 250 Operative Dentistry (Caries Detection and Prevention) Aim & Learning Outcomes Aim: To equip dental practitioners with a contemporary, evidence-informed framework for the diagnosis and non-operative or minimally invasive management of dental caries — with a particular focus on the decision-making that determines whether operative intervention is justified. Learning Outcomes — by the end of this episode, dentists will be able to: Describe the four underpinning principles and four clinical domains of Minimum Intervention Oral Care (MIOC), and articulate the difference between MIOC and minimally invasive dentistry. Apply a structured decision filter — incorporating cavitation, cleansability, and lesion activity — to determine whether a carious lesion requires operative intervention or microinvasive/non-operative management. Differentiate between passive monitoring and active surveillance, and use appropriate language in clinical communication, care planning, and contemporaneous notes

Why does occlusion feel so confusing at dental school? What if the problem is not that occlusion is too complex, but that it was taught in the wrong order? How do you make sense of worn teeth, bite scans, shimstock, leaf gauges, provisionals and T-Scan without getting overwhelmed? And which small ideas can genuinely change the way you diagnose, plan and restore? In this episode, Jaz is joined by Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim for a brilliant occlusion-focused conversation. They each bring five clinical “pearls” that helped occlusion finally click for them — from facially generated treatment planning to checking the contralateral side, muscle palpation, provisionals and digital occlusal data. https://youtu.be/REQ_L5NNEF4 Watch PDP267 on YouTube Protrusive Dental Pearl Create a PowerPoint or Keynote library of your clinical photos so you can quickly show patients relevant examples during consultations. ⚠️ Avoid hunting through random folders chairside — it feels clunky and breaks the flow of the conversation. ✅ Build a scrollable visual library of cracks, before-and-afters, complications, direct restorations, overlays, crowns and consent examples to support clearer patient communication. Key Takeaways Occlusion becomes easier when it is placed inside the treatment planning sequence, not treated as a separate subject. Facially generated treatment planning starts with where the upper teeth need to be for aesthetics. Once the central incisors are planned, the rest of the occlusion becomes easier to organise. Worn teeth that are still in occlusion are often in the wrong position. Anterior wear may be caused by tooth position, contact time, contact force, or a combination of all three. Gingival levels can reveal whether worn lower incisors have over-erupted. Digital bite scans are useful, but they are not always a perfect representation of the patient’s bite. Shimstock remains one of the most valuable and inexpensive tools for checking true occlusal contacts. After fitting a restoration, checking the contralateral side first can reveal whether the new restoration is high. Anterior guidance should be steep enough to separate the back teeth, but shallow enough to allow the lower incisors room to move. Muscle palpation should assess the quality and symmetry of contraction, not just whether the muscles exist. Always assess the opposing tooth before placing composite, ceramic or an indirect restoration. A leaf gauge can help create a more repeatable jaw position when planning more complex occlusal cases. Provisionals are essential for testing aesthetics, function, vertical dimension and occlusion before committing to final restorations. Highlights of the Episode: 00:00 Teaser 00:56 Introduction 03:36 Pearl: Build a Clinical Photo PowerPoint 12:48 Pearl 1: Facially Generated Treatment Planning 15:56 Pearl 2: Worn Teeth in Occlusion Are in the Wrong Position 18:05 Why Tooth Position Matters 18:22 Three Causes of Wear to Consider 19:34 Pearl 3: Digital Bite Scans Are Not Always Accurate 20:24 Why Shimstock Still Matters in Digital Dentistry 24:18 Pearl 4: Check the Contralateral Side After a Restoration 26:27 Pearl 5: The First Movement of Opening Is Not Pure Rotation 28:27 Midroll 33:10 Pearl 6: Healthy Occlusion Should Have Coordinated Muscle Contraction 35:22 Why Muscle Palpation Is a Useful Data Point 38:18 Practical Muscle Assessment Tip 38:58 Pearl 7: Always Look at the Opposing Tooth 39:33 What to Check Before an Indirect Restoration 39:44 Why the Opposing Tooth Matters 41:13 Pearl 8: Leaf Gauge for Finding a Repeatable Jaw Position 42:43 What a Leaf Gauge Is 44:33 Pearl 9: Provisionals Reduce the Fear of Complex Cases 47:49 Pearl 10: T-Scan Adds Objective Occlusal Data 53:16 Course Options and Learning Pathway 55:59 Outro ✨Connect with Dr. Mahmoud on Instagram 📍 Want to make occlusion more practical? Bulletproof is designed to take occlusion from abstract theory to real-world clinical application — covering posterior crowns, quadrant dentistry, PROPER conformative dentistry, occlusal risk assessment, shimstock, leaf gauges and daily protocols you can use straight away. The next Bulletproof course takes place on 26th–27th June at London Heathrow (Radisson Blu Hotel) Don’t miss it — find out more at bulletproofdentistry.com ➡️Check out more episodes on occlusion: Indirect Restorations For Guiding Teeth – PDP196 #PDPMainEpisodes  #OcclusionTMDandSplints This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes C AGD Subject Code: 180 Occlusion Aim: To help dentists improve their understanding and clinical application of occlusion by recognising key diagnostic signs, using practical occlusal assessment tools, and applying occlusal principles to restorative treatment planning. Dentists will be able to – Apply facially generated treatment planning principles when assessing occlusal and restorative cases. Identify how tooth position, contact time and contact force contribute to tooth wear and restoration risk. Use practical occlusal assessment methods such as shimstock, contralateral checking, muscle palpation, leaf gauges, provisionals and T-Scan data.

What is a prompt, and how do AI models actually work? Which AI tools should you be using in dentistry? Is it safe to put patient details into AI—and how can it help you save time and reduce stress? In this episode, Dr. Daz Kasperek joins to make AI in dentistry tangible, even if you’ve never used it before. Together, we cover the basics: from getting started with prompts and AI models to understanding ethical considerations and practical ways AI can streamline your workflow. They also explore the bigger picture—how AI can improve efficiency, enhance patient communication, and give clinicians more time to enjoy life outside the clinic. https://youtu.be/cmin0h7GNyE Watch PDP260 on YouTube Protrusive Dental Pearl: A free AI tool called Dental Disrupt Smile Simulator lets you upload a smile photo and instantly generate a realistic smile makeover simulation for patient discussions. It runs as a custom GPT inside ChatGPT, created by Dr. Jason Lipscomb Key Takeaways: AI is revolutionizing the field of dentistry, particularly in diagnosis. Prompt engineering is crucial for effective AI interactions. Personalization of AI tools can significantly improve their utility. AI can automate administrative tasks, potentially reducing the need for receptionists. AI can enhance communication between dentists and patients. The integration of AI in dentistry is still in its early stages. AI can provide personalized recommendations for patient care. Voice transcription is a more efficient way to interact with AI. The future of dentistry will heavily rely on AI technologies. AI is revolutionizing image creation in dentistry. Choosing the right AI model is crucial for effective use. Patient confidentiality must be prioritized when using AI. AI can transform administrative roles in dentistry. AI can assist in personalized education and training. The human connection in healthcare cannot be replaced by AI. Job roles will evolve rather than disappear due to AI. AI’s limitations highlight the importance of clinician expertise. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Teaser 01:08 Introduction 03:05 Protrusive Dental Pearl – Smile Simulator 06:39 Meet Dr Daz Kasperek 07:16 AI Adoption and Inequality 16:58 Better Prompting with RCT (Role, Context, Task) 21:56 AI and Administrative Work in Dentistry 30:42 AI Notes in Practice 35:05 Midroll 38:26 AI Notes in Practice 38:49 Smile Simulator Demo 41:57 Choosing Your AI Stack 49:01 Patient Confidentiality and Data Safety 54:38 AI in Dentistry – What It Will Replace 01:01:56 What AI Cannot Replace 01:04:53 Endo AI Research and Thesis 01:07:10 Contact and Resources 01:08:17 Outro If you enjoyed this episode, don’t miss “NEVER Write Notes Again! How I Use AI for Awesome and Efficient Dental Records – PDP181.” #PDPMainEpisodes #CareerDevelopment  This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance.  This episode meets GDC Outcomes A and C. AGD Subject Code: 550 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RELATIONS Aim: To provide dental professionals with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry, including its practical applications, limitations, and ethical considerations, to improve efficiency, patient communication, and clinical workflow. Dentists will be able to: Explain what AI is and the difference between an AI model and a prompt. Identify key AI platforms and tools relevant to dentistry and personal use. Apply AI safely in clinical practice while maintaining patient confidentiality.

Are you a high-earning dentist… living paycheck to paycheck? Do you ever feel financially stretched – despite earning well? Are you trapped in dentistry’s “golden handcuffs”? And what would your life look like if you worked because you wanted to… not because you had to? In this rare solo episode, Jaz steps away from occlusion and restorative dentistry to talk about something just as important: personal finances and career security for dentists. After going deep down the money rabbit hole — reading books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Simple Path to Wealth, and I Will Teach You To Be Rich — Jaz shares how his upbringing, early career decisions, and financial education shaped his beliefs about wealth, freedom, and dentistry. This isn’t financial advice.It’s a mindset shift. And for many dentists, it might be the most important episode you hear this year. https://youtu.be/4OXruGIdb_g Watch IC068 on YouTube Your day list reflects your earning power. The work you do each day quietly sets the limits of what you can earn. Exams and single-surface composites create one kind of ceiling; comprehensive cases, ortho, rehab, sedation, and complex restorative work create another. Upskilling changes that ceiling and gives you far more control over your financial future. Want more mindset shifts like this?AskJaz — your on-demand dental brain — is built into the Protrusive App. Key Takeaways High income does not guarantee financial security. Dentistry can become “golden handcuffs” without asset building. Invest in yourself early — skill drives earning power. Lifestyle creep quietly erodes freedom. Financial independence means practicing because you want to. Define your rich life and align spending accordingly. Highlights of This Episode: 00:00 Why talk about money on a dental podcast?04:12 Perspective and gratitude as dentists10:45 The 45% paycheck-to-paycheck poll16:20 Associates vs principals — the reality22:34 Lifestyle creep explained27:18 Golden handcuffs in dentistry31:10 Growing up with financial scarcity40:02 Investing in yourself early in your career47:55 Index funds and financial resilience55:20 The 20% happiness illusion01:02:18 Defining your rich life01:08:42 Action steps and reflection #PersonalFinances  This episode isnot eligible for CPD/CE points, but never fear, there are hundreds of hours of CPD waiting for you on the Ultimate Education Plan. If you enjoyed this episode, check out IC022 – Income for Dentists and Jaz’s Top 10 Financial Literacy books inside Protrusive Guidance.