In this episode of the Growing a Dental Practice podcast, host Mike Hennan is joined by Dr. Sarika Shah and Rishi Shah, the owners of Platinum Dental Care in Canary Wharf, London. They discuss their unique partnership as a husband-wife team and share insights into running a successful dental practice. Dr. Sarika Shah has 17 years of experience as a dentist and holds an MSc in restorative dentistry, while Rishi Shah brings a different perspective as a non-dentist. Listen to learn more about their journey and the strategies they have used to grow their practice.

Timestamps

[00:00:59] Husband-wife dental practice partnership.

[00:03:03] Choosing a career path.

[00:07:47] Dentistry and business integration.

[00:10:51] Running a dental business

[00:13:11] Choosing Canary Wharf as Location.

[00:19:49] Aesthetic transformation of the practice.

[00:23:35] Inheriting an existing team.

[00:25:10] Team changes and recruitment.

[00:29:12] Working as a husband and wife duo.

[00:32:56] Expanding to multiple locations.

[00:36:14] Running your own dental practice.

[00:40:05] Challenges of starting a practice.

Detailed Synopsis

In the episode, the hosts discuss the importance of balancing work and personal life for mental health and overall well-being. They emphasize that while running a dental practice can be challenging and time-consuming, it is essential to prioritize one's mental health and avoid feeling overwhelmed or stressed.

The hosts share their own experiences of sleepless nights and late-night discussions about practice-related matters. They acknowledge that it is easy to get caught up in the demands of running a business, but they have learned the importance of balance. They highlight the significance of maintaining good mental health and reaching out for support or advice when needed.

The hosts also mention the division of responsibilities between them and how their different skill sets and personalities complement each other. They recognize the need for open communication and managing disagreements in a constructive manner. They have learned to respect each other's roles and not intervene unnecessarily, allowing them to use their time wisely and focus on important discussions that require both of their inputs.

Overall, the episode emphasizes the need for dentists to prioritize their well-being and find a balance between work and personal life. They stress the importance of having a clear understanding of what running a dental practice entails, conducting thorough research, and having a robust business plan in place. Additionally, they highlight the significance of having a supportive team and mentors to help alleviate stress and ensure a successful practice.

In the episode, the speakers mention the importance of having an ideas board during the buying process for their practice. They recall having a tiny flat in Canada Water with a massive whiteboard on one of the walls, where they would pin up all their ideas and thoughts. They explain that having an ideas board allows for visualizing and remembering creative ideas, as well as planning and strategizing for the future of the practice.

The speakers also share their personal experience of discussing practice matters while lying in bed at 2 am, highlighting the level of dedication and commitment required. However, they also emphasize the importance of balance and not neglecting mental health. They suggest reaching out, sharing vulnerabilities, and asking for advice when needed. They believe that the more one shares and seeks help, the easier the journey becomes.

Overall, the episode suggests that sharing vulnerabilities and seeking advice from others can provide valuable support and guidance when starting a practice. It emphasizes the importance of building a network of mentors and professionals who can offer insights and help navigate the challenges that come with starting a practice.

Quotes

• 00:02:46 - "Never. No. Probably one of the best decisions we ever made together."

• 00:05:17 - "Being an entrepreneur is in my blood"

• 00:07:45 - "Dentistry itself was not my passion, let's be clear. It was first, it was business."

• 00:07:47 - "But I could see why they're not because time is so limited for the one person to do everything."

• 00:10:51 - "Yeah. And you know, as dentists, we don't, we're not really taught about finance. We're not taught about running a business, so much more to running a business than the financial side of it. And we're not taught any of those skills."

• 00:14:18 - "I was one of them, I could see what was important, I could see their working hours and having accessibility to a good quality service conveniently was important."

• 00:16:51 - "Yes, this, this is it. This is the one."

• 00:20:02 - "Yeah. Internal structural changes."

• 00:23:04 - "The more they bought into this change that's happening, and the more excited they got, the more they were likely to push through those tough times."

• 00:25:10 - "So many people are stuck in that comfort zone and don't want to kind of move with you or adapt with you."

• 00:26:53 - "I think all dentists are leaders, because in a way, you're leading in your surgery, you know, you're training staff members, even as an associate."

• 00:29:36 - "I love having Rushi as my partner."

• 00:32:56 - "we've run a really good practice, we've run it really well."

• 00:34:54 - "We've really wanted to create the practice that we were really proud of that, you know, runs really efficiently, the team that we were proud of."

• 00:37:32 - "The biggest stress to businesses starting off is to do with finance."

• 00:41:31 - "The more you share and the more help you get, the easier the whole journey becomes."

• 00:43:14 - "Bye bye bye bye bye for now."

Guest Contact Details

• Website: https://www.platinumdentalcare.co.uk/

• Email: [email protected]

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatinumDentalCare/