AMA FINANCIAL SERVICES
Care | Understand | Protect
Commercial Solutions
In the dental industry, running a successful practice means having the right financial solutions to fuel growth and secure your assets. At AMA Financial Services, we specialise in supporting dental professionals with expert financial services tailored to the unique demands of your practice.
Our Commercial Solutions ap proach covers everything from financing and insurance to business planning, providing a foundation for success and stability.
AMA Financial Planning
Our AMA Financial Planning team provide comprehensive financial advice, part of which aims to secure you and your practice’s future. We offer advice on personal insurances, as well as key person cover, debt protection and buy / sell insurances – essential tools to shield your practice from the financial risks associated with illness, disability or death. These solutions are designed to keep you and your clinic financial stable through every phase of your career.
AMA Finance Brokers
Thro ugh AMA Finance Brokers, w e connect dental professionals with financing options designed to support clinical growth and operational needs. Whether you’re investing in advanced dental equipment, expanding your clinic, or enhancing cash flow, we secure funding that aligns with the unique needs of dental practices, negotiating competitive terms to support your success.
AMA Insurance Brokers
Our AMA Insurance Brokers provides comprehensive protection against risks that affect dental practices specifically. Cyber insurance covers digital threats to patient data, while our Practice Office and Liability policies are crafted for dental professionals. We also offer asset and equipment insurance to protect the high-value tools and technologies vital to your practice.
With a proven track record in supporting dental professionals, AMA Financial Services is dedicated to helping dental practices across Australia thrive. Reach out for a complimentary consultation and learn how our Commercial Solutions can empower your practice.
Phone: 1800 262 346
Email: info@amafinancialservices.com.au
Web: www.amafinancialservices.com.au
David Hartley, Relationship Manager
David McClelland, Finance and Consulting Manager
Briony Gouldthorp, Senior Financial Adviser
Steve Osborne, Strategic Advisor, Governance Risk and Operational Excellence
Kasey Cuff, Senior Insurance Broker
The President's report
Dr Gwen Chin ADAWA President
As we progress through another exciting year for ADAWA, I want to take this opportunity to remind our members that, while the highly anticipated Dental Congress is set to take place in May, ADAWA continues to offer an outstanding selection of CPD courses throughout the year. Our commitment to supporting the professional development of our members remains steadfast, with a diverse range of courses designed to enhance clinical skills, expand knowledge, and ensure the highest standard of patient care. I encourage you to explore our CPD offerings and take advantage of the exceptional learning opportunities available to you locally.
Additionally, I would like to address some concerns and rumours that have recently circulated regarding IV sedation regulations. At this time, I can confirm that there are currently no changes in this area. ADAWA remains actively engaged with the Licensing and Accreditation Regulatory Unit (LARU)
CEO Trevor Lovelle
President Dr Gwen Chin
DISCLAIMER
and the Department of Health to ensure that our members are well-informed and that any future developments are communicated clearly. We understand that sedation is an integral part of many dental practices, and we will continue to advocate for the profession while ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. If any changes arise, rest assured that ADAWA will keep you informed and provide the necessary guidance to navigate any new requirements.
As always, ADAWA remains dedicated to supporting our members in all aspects of their professional journey. Whether through our advocacy efforts, CPD programs, or collegial support, we are here to serve the dental community. Thank you for your continued engagement and trust in ADAWA. We look forward to another year of growth and progress in our community!
Editorial Brooke Evans-Butler Designer Michelle Walker Advertising Business Development Manager Shaden Kanaan
CEO comment - workforce advocacy
Trevor Lovelle
Leading into the recent State election, both the Liberal and Labor parties failed to adequately address dental workforce shortages in Western Australia with effective, comprehensive strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and access to dental care across the broader community.
The WA Liberals planned to expand dental care access in under resourced regions by providing several mobile units, whereas the WA Labor Party foreshadowed enhancing emergency healthcare facilities but without specific provisions for oral health. Recruitment and retention of dental professionals in rural and remote areas is particularly challenging considering distance, limited educational facilities, and a lack of commercial incentives for private practice which discourage dental practitioners from relocating to these regions.
In recognising these challenges, the ADAWA Dental Workforce Committee has continued to strongly advocate for the WA dental workforce. The committee has responded to the WA Department of Training & Workforce Development (DTWD) Western Australian Jobs, Education, and Training (WAJET) survey with clear advice on the decline in numbers for Dental Assistants, Hygienists and Technicians available for work.
The committee noted that several factors had contributed to the current situation including:
• a new generation that for work/life
balance, prefers to work less than fulltime.
• a preference to take on less stressful roles.
• increased cost of living pressure has led to employees seeking alternate opportunities in higher wage paying sectors i.e. mining, larger corporate entities.
ADAWA is an active member of the Community Skills WA (CSWA) Dental Industry Advisory Group, which informs the State government via DTWD on training and education, workforce development, and support for regional and remote communities. CSWA’s broad charter is to address skills gaps and support workforce development in the state. The committee has strongly recommended to the CSWA that the State Government should consider subsidising private training and apprenticeships, and reduce the regulatory burden on training providers and employers. As well, the State government should improve pay and conditions for public sector workers, advocate for HELP debt relief, and promote sensible immigration policies. Providing relocation support, childcare assistance, and accommodation for rural workers would further aid recruitment and retention.
ADAWA looks forward to engaging with the newly elected State government on this vital issue.
Elevating your practice
As all practice owners know, it takes much more beyond treating patients to run a successful practice. We spoke to dental marketing advisor and founder and director of 360 Dental Prabin Gautam, and dental specialist practice management consultant Michelle Pritchard of Aligned Business Consulting, for their advice on how practice owners can grow and elevate their practice.
Dental practice owners wear many hats, so it makes sense to seek advice from the experts. When wanting to grow or elevate a practice, dental business experts such as Michelle and Prabin are available to give advice on areas that practice owners may find often get put on the backburner but can make a substantial difference to the smooth running of a practice – including Human Resources, marketing and business management systems.
Michelle says her mission is to help dentists and dental specialists get back to what they love—practising dentistry. “I work with them to conduct a diagnostic review and develop a treatment plan through a tailored 12-month roadmap to success, bespoke to their practice,” she says. “I then support them and their managers as they implement the business management systems needed to achieve their goals.”
Prabin says his business helps dental practices build their brands, generate quality enquiries and scale their businesses through branding, marketing, advertising, recruitment and consulting services.
He adds hiring an expert to elevate your practice through marketing has numerous advantages. “It will cost them far less than attempting DIY trial and error or hiring a generic agency that doesn’t specialise in or understand the intricacies of dental marketing,” he says. “The return on investment is significantly higher, as we go deeper by focusing on metrics such as the number of appointments,
types of appointments, and the best strategies to attract the right patients and treatment enquiries.”
WAYS TO GROW AND ELEVATE YOUR PRACTICE
Foundations of success
Michelle says her foundations of success include three things: patient experience, team dynamics and clinical excellence. “It is easy to get overwhelmed if you are an owner, manager and practitioner,” she says. “In a nutshell getting these foundations right and set up correctly can mean the practice runs more smoothly.”
Team dynamics
Michelle says Human Resources is a very important but often overlooked aspect of running a successful practice. “Dentists go into dentistry to be dentists,” she says. “They think about opening a practice, but they have no business experience. They are very compassionate, very good at what they do, and the clinic runs well but then they start to grow and hire more team members and there are no systems in place for onboarding. One of the biggest pain points I see in practices is they have HR issues.”
Michelle adds that she thinks often dentist owners get overwhelmed with HR issues. “They are being taken away from dentistry because they are putting out fires all the time, so it is important they have HR policies in place and that they invest in their manager to be a manager.
“It
is important to get the team to understand how a business works because a lot of practice managers do not come from a business background,” she adds. “They might have been a dental assistant or receptionist that has been elevated to that role. It is very important to invest in your team, so they know and understand processes you want to have in place.”
Patient experience
Michelle says having set procedures for each patient touch point is important. “The first touch point with a patient might be a phone call; you might have something written down about how each staff member answers the call, and a checklist on how the welcome pack gets sent out. Then a follow up a couple of days prior to the appointment saying we are looking forward to seeing you,” she says. “People think of systems as overwhelming but if you have a checklist on how things operate and what to do, it standardises everything so if a patient refers a family member or friend, you know they are going to get exactly the same treatment because everyone knows what they are doing.”
Building your brand through marketing and advertising
Prabin says branding, marketing, advertising and both local and broader area marketing are pieces of an upward triangle. “The base of this triangle is always branding,
representing the value your target patients perceive in your treatments compared to other dental practices,” he explains.
“Given the rapidly rising number of dental practices in every suburb, the ‘build it and they’ll come’ strategy no longer works. Practices need to ensure they are seen and heard, with clear and compelling messaging to attract the types of patients they want.
“In fact, we are increasingly seeing well-established dental practices, which have operated for years purely based on their legacy and without any outbound marketing, now exploring options for modern marketing and advertising to avoid losing patients to newer, prominently marketed practices.
“When supporting assets and hubs for patient engagement, such as websites and social media, are well-executed, it becomes easier to increase reach and influence. How big and broad practices choose to go depends on their target audience, market, and expansion plans.”
Common mistakes
Prabin says there are some common mistakes a practice owner makes when wanting to grow their practice:
1. Ignoring online presence: “We often see dental practice owners who aspire to be seen as a boutique, go-to dental practice,” he says. “They end up spending heavily on their premises, down to the smallest details, such as an exclusive doorknob. While it's important to have a beautiful and welcoming practice, owners often exhaust their budget on the physical setup and leave little for online branding. The problem, which they realise too late, is that the source of enquiries for the majority of dental practices is online. If they are not well portrayed or even not found anywhere online, all the money spent on beautifying the practice won’t yield a good return on investment. It’s crucial to first ensure the practice is visible online.”
2. Neglecting online branding: “Online branding is at least equally, if not more, important,” he says. “Your website and social media presence offer potential patients a glimpse into what it’s like to be a patient at your practice. If your branding assets are outdated, the audience is likely to expect a run-down, traditional dental practice, even if that may not be the reality.”
3. Overlooking actual performances: “Often, dental practice owners are the lead dentists at their practice. Their schedules are generally busy, and they don’t get enough time to thoroughly review every detail of their marketing performance,” Prabin explains. “They engage marketing companies, but some don’t realise— or realise very late— that all the reports focus on are the number of clicks, calls, or website traffic that don’t translate into real value for the business. This can affect cash flow if not monitored regularly.”
Michelle says a common mistake she sees at many practices is marketing without purpose. “I have seen some practices pay up to $5000 - $7000 a month on paid advertising and when you ask what return they are getting, they don’t know.”
She adds a common mistake practices make is not looking at the patients that do not rebook. “Recalls in most practices are huge,” she says. “Recalls can be a pot of gold sitting there but a lot of the admin team do not like to follow them up, so they get put to the bottom of the pile. Luckily now there are automations to do that so it is much easier, so this should not be overlooked.”
Prabin’s top three tips to practice owners
1. Don’t compromise on your online branding and presence. Ensure your website has the 3F qualities: Feel, Function, and Found (in online searches for relevant search terms).
2. Make time to reflect on your marketing and advertisement performance. How far is the deviation between the report and actual results? What is your online position for relevant searches, such as ‘dentist in [suburb name]’? Does your marketing team make it easy for you, or
do you find yourself spending a lot of time explaining the intricacies of the dental world?
3. Continuous learning. It is equally important to train all team members so that the burden of converting new enquiries or promoting higher-value treatments doesn’t rest solely on the practice owner’s shoulders. Marketing companies will bring enquiries through the door, but the next steps are up to the team members.
Michelle’s top three tips for practice owners
1. Practice Values and Foundations of Success
A practice that is clear on its values runs more smoothly. When patient experience,
team dynamics, and clinical excellence are built around these values, it creates consistency and trust. Defining what your practice stands for helps guide decisions and ensures everyone is aligned.
2. HR Documentation and Compliance
Many practice owners underestimate the importance of solid HR documentation. Clear contracts, onboarding procedures, and policies prevent future issues and free up time that would otherwise be spent putting out fires. Investing in proper HR systems helps protect both the team and the business.
3. Systems and Tracking for Growth
Data-driven decision-making is key to long-term success. Practices that track key metrics—such as patient retention, treatment conversions, and operational efficiencies—gain clarity on what’s working and where improvements are needed. Without tracking, growth is just guesswork.
A winning formula
Founder and Director of My Implant Dentist Group, Dr Kent Tan, recently celebrated a series of triumphs in the business world. We spoke to Kent about his journey to success, alongside raising a young family, and his advice for other practice owners.
When Dr Kent Tan became a practice owner five years ago, he probably could not have anticipated the growth of his business – expanding to eight locations with 135 dedicated staff members. Amidst the growth of the business, Kent’s colleague recommended he submit entries for business awards in 2024 – a decision that has raised the profile of his career.
Reflecting on the process of entering these awards, Kent says: “It was quite a lot of work – from submissions to interviews and even a trip to Melbourne for the Telstra Business Awards. But we dedicated ourselves to the process, believing that 2024 was the year to align our values with recognition.”
The year proved to be a successful one
for Kent and his team as they clinched several prestigious awards, including the 2024 Pinnacle Award, Australian Achievers Awards, 40 Under 40 Awards, Telstra WA Best of Business Awards and finalists in the National Telstra WA Best of Business Awards, WA Business News Awards and Young Entrepreneur Awards.
Beyond the accolades, Kent emphasised the positive impact these achievements had on his team's morale. "Every member works tirelessly, and these wins are a testament to their efforts. Our patients have also taken note of our accomplishments," he acknowledged.”
Encouraging fellow practice owners to participate in business awards, Kent stressed
the importance of taking a step back to reflect on one's goals and achievements. "It's an opportunity to celebrate wins, big and small, and realign with your values," he shared.
“We can get so busy doing clinical work, working on the business or in the business that sometimes you can lose focus on what you are trying to achieve or what your business is trying to achieve,” he says. “One thing I found very beneficial through many of these business awards is that the process and journey they take you through makes you take a step back and reflect.
“It helps you refocus on your broader goals and reflect on and celebrate the wins, whether they are small wins or bigger wins that your business has achieved. The process of the awards makes you articulate your values and what you are trying to achieve, which I found insightful.”
For Kent, the key to a successful practice lies in fostering a great team, nurturing a positive team culture, and delivering exceptional clinical work. "Prioritising the team has been critical to our success," he affirmed.
Looking ahead to 2025, Kent is confident in further growth for his practice group, promising exciting developments on the horizon within and outside WA. With his dedication to building both his business and his family (with very active toddlers), he is an example of a winning formula for success. Watch this space!
Making a difference
We spoke to Dr Allie Mackie about her experience volunteering at St Pat’s.
Dr Allie Mackie started volunteering just over a year ago when she was looking for a way to give back to the community.
“I have been in private practice for roughly 25 years, but felt that I wanted to help those who couldn’t afford to come and see me,” she recalls. “It has always been on my radar to find a way to help those who are disadvantaged. I happened upon an article in the Western Articulator featuring a dentist making dentures at St Pat’s and thought: “This is a sign; I can go help there.”
Allie says volunteering at St Pat’s has been an incredibly positive experience. “The team at St Pat’s are really organised and that is reflected in the wellappointed dental clinic,
which has everything a general dentist needs and soon more (the new St Pat’s centre and its two dental clinics hopes to open its doors in the next 12 months).
“We have an OPG machine, the now standard digital radiographs, an intramural camera, a vast array of restorative equipment with up-to-date hand pieces and surgical equipment,” she says. “Deb is our clinic coordinator, and she ensures that time in the chair is not wasted, and patients are fully booked and on time. We also have Jess, a dedicated full-time nurse who has come from private practice who enjoys helping those who may otherwise not get basic dental treatments due to cost and access. Scott is our dedicated prosthetist
who uses his expertise in the field and has greatly expedited the provision of dentures to our patients,”
Allie adds. “It is a real team effort and a great feeling to help people who would otherwise remain in pain or without teeth because of their circumstances.”
Allie is currently volunteering at two clinics at St Pat’s – a homeless/disadvantaged patient clinic and a new dedicated indigenous patient clinic between which she alternates her time whilst at St Pat’s.
“The people I am seeing are trying to their lives back on track and are on waitlisted to do so,” Allie says. “When it is their turn, they show up as they are highly motivated to move forward with their lives. One of the biggest
obstacles for them getting back into the workforce and move forward is the condition of their teeth or lack thereof and being unable to smile.
The combination of pain, lack of teeth and poor nutrition results low selfesteem contributes the ongoing cycle of homelessness. If we can overcome these issues by providing high quality, timely dental care we can help these people get back into society and that is what makes it all worth it to me.”
Allie says the treatment she provides at the centre includes restorations, extractions, prevention education, dietary and smoking cessation counselling. She adds that like private practice, volunteering is building a good rapport with your patients.
“When I see my indigenous patients, there is initially just a lot of listening to their stories, gaining insight to their particular circumstances and establishing trust,” she explains.
"Many of these patients don’t see anyone except their carer each day and are happy to come in, sit, have a chat and then get treatment.
“Once those relationships are established, the treatment takes care of itself,” she says.
When asked about the rewards of volunteering, Allie says: “It may sound cliche but being part of making a big difference in someone’s life with the skills you’ve obtained over the years is remarkably rewarding. Just remember that in another lifetime that could be any one of us sitting in that chair with
little hope – so we should make it our duty to give back on some level.”
If you are a dentist considering volunteering your skills and time, Allie says:
“Just try it. Sign up and go in for one day. There is no obligation to continue if it isn’t what you expected.
At St Pat’s, you can work one day a week, a month, a year and change your dates if other commitments demand – just try it."
“We have all the facilities, materials and staff to work, and it is a real honour to be able to help those less fortunate. I think most people who are in the health sciences come from a place of desire to help people. This is just the next step. I feel volunteering has make me a better dentist and a better person. I am so fortunate to be part of the team at St Pat’s.”
To enquire about volunteering at St Pat’s, contact Debbie McLeod (Health Clinic Coordinator at St Patrick’s Community Support Centre) dmcleod@stpats.com.au or https:// stpats.com.au/dental/#contact
How prepared is your practice for a cyber-attack?
Recent statistics indicate that 48% of all cyber-attacks are against the small-medium business sector, with over 60% of businesses going out of business within 6 months of a successful cyber-attack.
Australian businesses are facing increasing cyber-attacks.
Several recent data breaches have highlighted the vulnerable state of most Australian businesses. Hackers & cyber criminals are opportunists and are taking advantage to build their business from the victims of cyber-attacks.
A successful cyber-attack, such as ransomware, or data loss, can be catastrophic for a small-medium business. Not only are there financial impacts, there is reputational damage along with legal & privacy impacts.
The Australian Privacy Principles carry fines of up to $50M for companies, and up to $444,000 for individuals, where a serious or repeated data breach has occurred.
It is now mandatory for companies to comply with the Notifiable Data Breach Scheme for any lost or stolen personally identifiable information.
Protect you patients privacy and your business
Small Robot are an Australian specialist cyber security & technology company with a focus on protecting the small-medium and mid-sized businesses. Our highly experienced team of skilled experts have over 10 years or more of cyber security & data protection experience across businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Our experts constantly research hacker techniques, and develop solutions to protect, detect and neutralise threats or data loss. Our industry best solutions are tried and
tested against even the most advanced attacks. Small Robot clients benefit from cyber assessments, solution implementation, operational management and ongoing monitoring to keep the business secure and protected.
We have an IT provider, why do we need a specialist Cyber Security company?
A recent study by the Australian Cyber Security Centre found that many businesses rely on their IT provider for security, and these businesses were found to be highly vulnerable to successful cyber-attacks. Due to the sophistication and ‘having to find only one weakness one time’ nature of cyber-attacks, it was identified that specific expertise is required to protect, detect, identify and neutralise attacks. An understanding not only of the technologies in use, but also the attacker tactics, techniques and procedures is needed. This requires a level of knowledge, research and experience that IT providers do not have.
The team at Small Robot regularly research, reverse engineer and identify methods to detect and protect against these everevolving attacks. But we don’t stop there, we take the time to understand your business, your practice, and make sure that what we implement is not only secure but is also an enabler of your business success.
Effective & Affordable Security
Most security solutions are made for large enterprise and government. Developing
solutions that are both affordable and effective for a smaller business was a key challenge. Small Robot have partnered with Cisco, a global leading security company, to provide enterprise-level security to smaller business at an affordable price point. Our comprehensive solutions cover critical areas such as managed internet, network and phone systems (via Cisco Webex) through to email security, identity & access protection, data loss prevention, as well as endpoint & device security.
Included with our solutions is the management & operations, along with the cyber-security monitoring of your practice 24x7 via our advanced detection & response platform; human analysts augmented by data, tech & AI.
Some step you can take today
Whilst there are many areas of cyber risk in a practice, there are some simple things that you can do today, both as a business and personally, to better protect yourself and your business. Simple steps such as not reusing passwords across different services,
not sharing passwords or credentials, and ideally leveraging Password Managers to create, remember and sign into your services. Password Managers are often free to use for small amounts of users.
Another simple step is to secure your identities using two-factor (2FA) or the more secure multi-factor authentication (MFA); Microsoft 365 can do this out of the box, as can many other services. Whilst we have more robust, user-friendly and advanced solutions, this is a good first step. With the rise in volume and sophistication of cyber-attacks, there is no time like the present to take the opportunity to protect your practice’s future. The team at Small Robot are proud to be supporters of ADAWA, and we are here to provide our expertise and assistance in protecting and powering your practice’s resilience and success. A secure and successful business future for your practice is our business success.
Contact the team today via info@ smallrobot.ai, or call us on 1300 870 702
Meet Dr Roslyn Franklin and Steve Lines
In the lead-up to their Practical Infection control course in June, we caught up with presenters Dr Roslyn Franklin and Steve Lines.
Infection control is a hot topic in dentistry circles, so this is a workshop you will not want to miss! Dr Roslyn Franklin (Director and owner of Amalgamate Consulting) and Steve Lines (Operations Manager STS Group Australia) are experts in their fields and will be able to share their extensive infection control knowledge during this course.
Ros has been running her infection control and consulting business for some years – but her transition from dentist to consultant wasn’t something she set out to do.
“A dental practice I worked at in Bunbury wanted to become an
accredited practice,” she recalls.
“The practice manager didn’t have enough time, so they asked if I wanted to come in and help. Afterwards, the dentist said: ‘You obviously really like doing this; you should do it as your own business.’”
Initially Ros focussed on assisting practices with accreditation, which later merged with an infection control component (she later did a post graduate certificate in infection prevention and control).
In Steve’s case, he says he and Ros share something in common, that their original training is still incredibly useful and necessary for their current roles.
“My background is an electrician, instrumentation technician by trade,” he says. “I worked in renal dialysis water treatment for about seven years and the neat thing about that is I was able to use my electrical and instrumentation skills and apply it to a different industry. In hospital based and satellite renal dialysis, there was a roomful of patients and a central water treatment system using reverse osmosis and heat sanitisation. Interestingly, that same technology crosses over into the infection control side of what we do with autoclaves,” he explains. “Both Ros and I have training in our fields that are able to be applied in different ways, and we have been able to work together very collaboratively and openly.”
Ros and Steve will be bringing their collective knowledge together to present a highly-anticipated workshop in June –Practical Infection Control: The What, The Why and The How.
The 4-hour workshop is designed to help attendees implement the latest Australian Infection Control guidelines and standards with confidence – deep diving into areas including personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and instrument sterilisation.
It will be the first time Ros and Steve will be presenting together in person (they have previously only presented together virtually –making a series of videos together for Ros’s business, Amalgamate Consulting).
When asked who should be attending the course, Ros says it is a workshop suitable for the whole dental team.
“I would like everyone including dental practitioners and practice owners to have more of an understanding about what goes on in the steri room,” she says. “I often hear staff saying: ‘The room isn’t big enough or I don’t have time to do things properly’.
“When the owners have more understanding on what is going on in this secret room then they are more willing to give more time for dental assistants to do their job safely
and properly or upgrade or improve the steri processes and equipment. It is like me knowing more about how my car works –such as how to change the oil and check the tyre pressure – it is good to have some understanding.”
Steve adds a positive of the course is being able to get hands-on with a working autoclave. “You will have someone who is technical talking about the validation process about what probe goes where and why – and talking about the operator maintenance aspect of an autoclave. There is a hands-on, practical, tangible, element that you do not get from an online course.”
Ros and Steve will be attempting to make standards as simple as possible to understand – whether you are confused about rules and regulations or not sure what type of test should be done on a benchtop autoclave. Ros adds they will have a lengthy Q&A session – allowing attendees time to ask questions and interact with products on display.
She adds she hopes after attending the course, attendees have a sense of infection control no longer being an overwhelming subject. “Things are going to be broken down into easy-to-understand, actionable things that they can take back to the practice with them,” she says. “By coming to a course that is run by ADAWA – they know that it is a reputable source of information.
“These things aren’t confusing when you boil it down,” she adds. “We have done the hard yards reading through the standards and highlighting things and breaking them all down – this will save people time.
“Everything is less overwhelming when it is broken down into steps,” she explains.
“I find when you teach that people go ‘Ohhhh’ – and I love that. It is ‘Oh! That is not complicated.”
To book your seat for Practical Infection Control: The What, The Why and The How with Dr Ros Franklin and Steve Lines, go to the ADAWA website, adawa.com.au/cpd
5 minutes
with Ros Franklyn and Steve Lines
If you weren’t in this field of work, what would you be doing?
Ros: I would have been a pharmacologist. I was heading down the pharmacology pathway.
Steve: I think anything technical and solving problems. Helping people. I have always liked to know how things work and take things apart and put them back together.
What do you do in your spare time?
Ros: My spare time is spent crafting. I love to sew, I love to quilt, I love to knit and crochet. I also like to walk my 12-year-old chocolate labradoodle.
Steve: When Ros and I did an infection control video together, it was the week before my first and only body building competition. This was in 2023…I thought I’d join a gym, trim down and tone up and I ended up completely overdoing it taking things to the extreme,
which is a particular character flaw of mine! I haven’t done a body building show since but I still like to keep fit for mental and physical health reasons. What is your favourite travel destination?
Ros: My favourite travel destination has to be Scotland.
Steve: My favourite place is Italy. Every time we go back to our manufacturer, it is an absolute treat.
Favourite podcast?
Ros: When I drive from Bunbury to Perth I listen to ABC Conversations.
Steve: I am a podcast and audio book reading person. I like tuning into Chris Williamson, Mel Robbins, Joe Rogan and Brene’ Brown podcasts – and everything in between. An Australian podcaster who I absolutely love is The Imperfects with Hugh van Cuylenburg and Ryan Shelton.
PRACTICAL
INFECTION CONTROL: THE WHAT, THE WHY AND THE HOW
COURSE OUTLINE
This practical, hands-on workshop is designed to help you implement the latest Australian Infection Control guidelines and standards with confidence and tackle the specific challenges of infection prevention in your practice.
We’ll take a deep dive into essential areas like personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and instrument sterilisation – breaking down each process to a practical, easy-to-understand level. You’ll gain the skills needed to provide optimal patient care while staying compliant with current regulations.
Learning outcome
• Understand the latest standards, guidelines, and best practices.
• Explore best practices for PPE and hand hygiene, with real-world tips on practical implementation.
• And more.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr Roslyn Franklin has been working in the dental industry just on 30 years. She is a dentist, trainer and teacher of dental assistants, a writer of educational materials, and a passionate infection pre¬vention and control consultant. She was recently nominated at a ‘fellow’ at the International College of Dentists, and was lead author for the chapter devoted to infection control in dental settings in the book Healthcare-Associated Infections in Australia: Principles and Practice of Infection Prevention and Control.
Mr Steve Lines has been working on medical equipment both hands on and in management roles for 22 years and in the dental sector for the past 17 years. He is responsible for training technicians across Australia and New Zealand on validation, installation, servicing and repairs of sterilisation and disinfection equipment. Steve has served as the WA President for the ADIA and is actively involved with industry peak bodies and associations relating to the ongoing evolution of infection control standards and guidelines.
CALENDAR 2025
BIOCLEAR METHOD
COURSE OUTLINE
Join us for an immersive one-day introductory course on the Bioclear Method, developed by renowned clinician Dr. David Clark. This course is specifically designed to provide dentists with exposure to the revolutionary techniques and materials used in the Bioclear Method, with a primary focus on heat injection overmoulded composite. Through interactive lectures, hands-on exercises, and practical case scenarios, participants will gain the necessary skills to effectively handle and implement this innovative approach in their clinical practice.
Learning outcome
• Understand the fundamental principles and clinical applications of the Bioclear Method.
• Gain proficiency in utilising the heat injection technique for over moulded composite, a cornerstone of the Bioclear Method.
• And more.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr Geoff Wan was born in Vancouver Canada and discovered an interest in dentistry at the young age of 14. He completed his Bachelor of Dentistry at the University of Sydney in 2006. He then spent the next 4 years in the United States having completed additional post-graduate training before returning to Sydney. Dr Geoff is a general dentist and Certified Bioclear provider. He is actively involved in the running of his two practices in Penrith and Riverstone NSW. He has a keen interest in cosmetic, restorative, orthodontic and CADCAM dentistry along with smile design. Dr Geoff is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, a member of the Australian Dental Association, American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, and the Academy of General Dentistry. He also has completed the EODO Mini Orthodontic Residency.
Treating patients with Autism
World Autism Day is on April 2. We look into the Autism Association of Western Australia’s training program helping dentists and health professionals understand Autism.
How well do you and your practice team understand Autism? World Autism Day is a good reminder to ensure you (and your colleagues) increase your knowledge to provide safe, accessible and neuro-affirming health care for patients with Autism.
Health and Dental Autism Training Program
The Autism Association of Western Australia’s Health and Dental Autism Training Program, launched in 2021 and was the first online training program for health and dental professionals in Australia.
The free program includes five online training modules, including:
• Understanding Autism
• Strategies
• Inpatient Care
• Outpatient Care
• Discharging a Patient
The program aims to:
• Increase understanding and capacity of the dental sector to effectively support people with Autism
• Reduce barriers for Autistic people in accessing appropriate dental care
• Improve oral healthcare for Autistic people and
• Support inclusive practices.
Grace Lazuardi, Director of Policy, Planning and Development at the Autism Association of Western Australia, said: “We know that many Autistic people can face barriers when it comes to accessing health care and we wanted to address the disparity
in oral health between Autistic and non-Autistic individuals.
“Since the launch of the Autism Association's online training program for health and dental professionals, hundreds of professionals in the sector, across Australia and internationally, have been empowered to deliver more inclusive, compassionate, and effective health care for Autistic individuals.
“Through undertaking this training, oral health professionals can gain the necessary knowledge to understand the diversity of Autism so they can make reasonable adjustments to provide better experiences and ultimately improve the oral health of Autistic individuals.
“We are delighted with the success of the program and the positive impact it has had on both professionals who have participated in the training and the individuals with Autism accessing their services.
“Through our continued health advocacy work, we seek to continue to improve the knowledge and skills of health and oral health professionals and ensure all individuals with Autism have improved access to healthcare services and better experiences when receiving health care.”
To date, over 800 professionals have registered to do the course – and the program was recognised as a finalist in the Excellence in Innovation category at the WA Disability Support Awards in 2021.
To register for the program, please visit the Autism Association of Western Australia’s website, www.autism.org.au/healthdental-autism-training-program/
Migraine and Pregnancy
By Mahesh Thyagarajan
Migraine being a prevalent neurological condition with the capacity to affect one’s quality of life detrimentally, may pose an additional challenge in the life of a pregnant woman. Family-planning consultations may be more productive if they involve discussion on this issue of vital significance. It has been shown that many women either choose not to have children or limit the number of children due to fear of increased migraine severity or frequency, or the ill effects of migraine upon the foetus.
Migraines associated with menstruation and menstrual migraines occur due to a complex interplay of hormones, and the exact mechanisms involved are not completely understood. While migraines tend to improve during pregnancy, this is not always the case, especially in the 1st trimester, when migraine frequency
may increase. This is especially true for migraines with auras, which also seem to arise de novo in pregnancy.
Oestrogen levels rise suddenly at pregnancy-onset which could contribute to the increase in migraine attacks, while in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, the levels stabilise, and progesterone levels also tend to rise. In recent years two other hormones have caught the eye of researchers: prolactin, secreted by the hypophysis and oxytocin secreted by the hypothalamus. The former is a pronociceptive hormone while the latter is anti-nociceptive.
Interestingly, the receptors for the two co-inhabit with receptors for oestrogen and CGRP (Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide)! Therefore, antagonists to prolactin receptors or monoclonal antibodies against these receptors, and oxytocin receptor
agonists may divulge new pathways for pain management in future.
Though pharmacological strategies are available to pregnant women, the safety of many of the drugs used remains questionable or unproven. Let us consider the following:
Paracetamol use is generally considered safe. However, two methodologically challenged studies have shown that there may be a risk of neurodevelopmental and anatomical abnormalities in the foetus.
NSAIDs have been associated with congenital malformations and miscarriages as well as failure to implant when used in the 1st trimester. They could be used in the 2nd trimester but are best avoided after week 32 due to increased risk for pre-term birth, increased bleeding risk, and postpartum bleeding risk. Aspirin use should be discouraged in pregnancy.
Opioids in general have a minimal role in migraine management. Sporadic use of codeine in severe attacks may be ok, but chronic use should be avoided as there are reports of congenital malformations. Also, use in late pregnancy may result in foetal respiratory depression, and opioid dependence.
Triptans seem to be safe for use but there are some studies with biases that suggest the risk of congenital malformations and spontaneous abortions.
Ergot alkaloids are completely contraindicated in pregnancy.
Antiemetics like metoclopramide are usually safe. Any extrapyramidal effect risk is thought to be theoretical.
Therefore the use of drugs in pregnancy overall should always be on a strict “if needed” basis, at the lowest possible dose, for the shortest possible duration, and after a complete discussion of the risks and benefits with the parents.
Preventive strategies for migraines may not be needed in pregnancy due to the reported reduction in migraine occurrence. However,
when required, we need to consider the following data:
Beta-blockers are normally the most commonly used prophylactic drugs with high efficacy. Studies on their safety in pregnancy are based more on patients with hypertension. Propranolol seems to be safe to use. Maybe it is best avoided in late pregnancy due to the risk of foetal bradycardia.
Ace inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and calcium channel blockers are best avoided.
Topiramate and sodium valproate
Topiramate is associated with oral clefts when used in early pregnancy and in late pregnancy can result in low birth weight. Therefore data suggests that this drug is best avoided. Valproates are teratogenic and have no place in pregnancy.
Amitriptyline, these are considered second-line drugs. Limited data suggest risk of low birth weight and preterm delivery, so use in pregnancy, should be restricted.
Onabotulinum Toxin A (OBA) insufficient data exists, except for one case study, there are no other studies available. Possibly safe to use.
Magnesium this is safe to use.
Riboflavin may be used as part of a multivitamin regimen but not at an elevated dose.
An alternative to pharmacological management could be physical exercise, which could also be used in tandem with medications. While studies exploring painmodifying effects of anaerobic exercises are limited in number and quality, aerobic exercise has been found to alleviate migraine pain and could be mediated via the endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems, brain-derived neurotropic factors, behavioural modification, and improvement in psychological parameters. Physical activity (PA) is effective in improving overall quality of life in general. Specifically in pregnant women, PA improves pregnancy
outcomes as well as being beneficial to the foetus and the mother. Pregnancy as such, but more specifically in migraineurs, is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity which could be mediated by poor psychological status, tiredness, nausea, stress, inadequate sleep, and hypercoagulability of blood. PA will help reduce this risk. Moderate PA of about 150 minutes is recommended for all pregnant women and may include activities like climbing stairs, swimming, yoga, walking on a treadmill or simply taking a walk out in nature. Regular exercise is beneficial due to improvement in psychological status, improved cardiovascular and respiratory parameters, improved sleep, muscle tone, and bone health, and results in weight loss, all of which are important for migraine prevention. PA helps reduce inflammation by reducing cortisol, growth hormone, and inflammatory cytokines and may enhance the endogenous opioid, brain-derived neurotrophic, and cannabinoid systems. This could influence migraine severity and frequency, especially if used as part of integrative medicine. This modern paradigm helps strengthen multimodal pain management using cognitive behavioural therapy, muscle relaxation strategies using Pilates, gentle stretches, diaphragmatic deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, moderate PA, and low-level pharmacotherapy. Biofeedback and relaxation techniques, weight loss, good nutrition, maintaining good hydration, and stress reduction are all useful strategies. The pregnant lady should be provided with information on the course that their migraine may take as part of prepregnancy counselling. It is at this stage that a thorough discussion on drugs that can be used, their adverse effects, and the risk for teratogenicity needs to occur. In the peri-pregnancy period, support, education and motivation are essential. Ongoing monitoring and counselling should continue
during pregnancy, and into the post-partum period. During pregnancy information on the possible progression of migraine postpartum should occur. Information on the safety of drugs during pregnancy can provided in the late stages of pregnancy as well as during the immediate post-partum period.
Non-pharmacological strategies should be the mainstay of migraine management during pregnancy, with pharmacology as support. However, one needs to be wary of the increased stress and debility that uncontrolled pain may pose, and hence there is no role for shunning medications either.
During breastfeeding one needs to consider the pharmacokinetics of drugs for acute migraine management, as well as for prophylaxis. There can be an increase in menstrual migraines after parturition due to oestrogen cycling. Normally pure breastfeeding seems to keep oestrogen levels stable, however, pro-nociceptive prolactin levels increase. The following summary of the various drugs may be useful to bear in mind:
Acute attacks
Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are considered safe. Amongst the NSAIDs, naproxen may be considered as 2nd line drug in case either of the previous medications are ineffective. Triptans, again, can be used and eletriptan is considered 1st line, followed by sumatriptan. Rare, sporadic use of opioids, especially codeine, might be without serious adverse effects, but one needs to be very cautious. Ergot alkaloids are contraindicated due to the risk of diarrhoea, emesis and convulsions in the infant. Metoclopramide can be used safely in single doses.
Prophylactic drugs during breastfeeding
Beta-blockers are possibly safe to use. Topiramate may cause sedation for the
infant, and if this drug is the only one that can be used, continuous monitoring of the baby may be necessary. Sodium valproate is considered safe to use. Amitriptyline is also possibly safe to use, but we do not have enough information on whether the drug can accumulate in the infant, with chronic use. This drug can be 2nd line drug after beta-blockers. Magnesium is normally found in breast milk and can be used safely; so can vitamin B2. There is no data available on the safety of OBA, but it is unlikely to be secreted in breast milk. It is best to avoid ACEI, ARBs and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, due to insufficient data being available.
References
Amundsen, Siri, Hedvig Nordeng, Kateřina NezvalováHenriksen, Lars Jacob Stovner, and Olav Spigset. "Pharmacological Treatment of Migraine During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding." Nature Reviews Neurology 11, no. 4 (2015): 209-19.
Antonucci, R., M. Zaffanello, E. Puxeddu, A. Porcella, L. Cuzzolin, M. D. Pilloni, and V. Fanos. "Use of NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Pregnancy: Impact on the Fetus and Newborn." [In eng]. Curr Drug Metab 13, no. 4 (May 1 2012): 474-90. https://doi. org/10.2174/138920012800166607
Bérard, A., S. Strom, J. P. Zhao, S. Kori, and D. Albrecht. "Dihydroergotamine and Triptan Use to Treat Migraine During Pregnancy and the Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes." [In eng]. Sci Rep 11, no. 1 (Sep 29 2021): 19302. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97092-y.
de Fays, L., K. Van Malderen, K. De Smet, J. Sawchik, V. Verlinden, J. Hamdani, J. M. Dogné, and B. Dan. "Use of Paracetamol During Pregnancy and Child Neurological Development." [In eng]. Dev Med Child Neurol 57, no. 8 (Aug 2015): 718-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.12745.
de Souza Ferraz, Vanessa, Clayton Peixoto, Ana Paula Ferreira Resstel, Ygor Thiago Cerqueira de Paula, and Ana Beatriz Gomes de Souza Pegorare. "Effect of the Pilates Method on Pain and Quality of Life in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 35 (2023): 220-27.
Grossman, Tracy B, Matthew S Robbins, Shravya Govindappagari, and Ashlesha K Dayal. "Delivery Outcomes of Patients with Acute Migraine in Pregnancy: A Retrospective Study." Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 57, no. 4 (2017): 605-11.
Hagen, K, JA Zwart, L Vatten, LJ Stovner, and G Bovim. "Prevalence of Migraine and Non-Migrainous Headache— Head-Hunt, a Large Population-Based Study." Cephalalgia 20, no. 10 (2000): 900-06.
Ishii, R., T. J. Schwedt, S. K. Kim, G. Dumkrieger, C. D. Chong, and D. W. Dodick. "Effect of Migraine on Pregnancy Planning: Insights from the American Registry for Migraine Research." [In eng]. Mayo Clin Proc 95, no. 10 (Oct 2020): 2079-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.06.053.
Lackovic, M., M. Jankovic, S. Mihajlovic, Z. Milovanovic, and D. Nikolic. "Exploring the Connection between Migraines and Pregnancy: The Impact of Physical Activity on Symptom Management." [In eng]. Medicina (Kaunas) 60, no. 1 (Dec 27 2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/ medicina60010049.
Lucas, C. "Migraine with Aura." Revue Neurologique 177, no. 7 (2021/09/01/ 2021): 779-84. https://doi.org/https://doi. org/10.1016/j.neurol.2021.07.010 https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S0035378721006214
McCrae, J. C., E. E. Morrison, I. M. MacIntyre, J. W. Dear, and D. J. Webb. "Long-Term Adverse Effects of Paracetamol - a Review." [In eng]. Br J Clin Pharmacol 84, no. 10 (Oct 2018): 2218-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.13656
Pergolizzi, Joseph V., Jo Ann LeQuang, Garrett K. Berger, and Robert B. Raffa. "The Basic Pharmacology of Opioids Informs the Opioid Discourse About Misuse and Abuse: A Review." Pain and Therapy 6, no. 1 (2017/06/01 2017): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-017-0068-3. https://doi. org/10.1007/s40122-017-0068-3
Reddy, N., M. N. Desai, A. Schoenbrunner, S. Schneeberger, and J. E. Janis. "The Complex Relationship between Estrogen and Migraines: A Scoping Review." [In eng]. Syst Rev 10, no. 1 (Mar 10 2021): 72. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s13643-021-01618-4.
Song, Tae-Jin, and Min Kyung Chu. "Exercise in Treatment of Migraine Including Chronic Migraine." Current pain and headache reports 25 (2021): 1-11
Sternfeld, Barbara. "Physical Activity and Pregnancy Outcome: Review and Recommendations." Sports medicine 23 (1997): 33-47.
Susanti, Restu, and Syamel Muhammad. "Migraine and Pregnancy: What Should We Know." Andalas Obstetrics And Gynecology Journal 4, no. 2 (2020): 251-60.
Szewczyk, Anna K, Samiye Ulutas, Tülin Aktürk, Linda AlHassany, Corinna Börner, Federica Cernigliaro, Michalis Kodounis, et al. "Prolactin and Oxytocin: Potential Targets for Migraine Treatment." The Journal of Headache and Pain 24, no. 1 (2023): 31.
Tadokoro-Cuccaro, R., B. G. Fisher, A. Thankamony, K. K. Ong, and I. A. Hughes. "Maternal Paracetamol Intake During Pregnancy-Impacts on Offspring Reproductive Development." [In eng]. Front Toxicol 4 (2022): 884704. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2022.884704.
The retained root and consent
By Dr Colm Harney, Dentolegal Consultant
Dental
Protection Limited
A new patient attended a practice for their first appointment, complaining of problems with a broken tooth on the upper left. The patient had not seen a dentist for a few years and was aware that the tooth had been progressively breaking down. The patient was now experiencing pain, and she said that she wanted to have the tooth removed.
The dentist carried out an examination and identified the broken tooth as the upper left canine, 23. There was a cantilever bridge pontic replacing missing 22 and deep caries had developed distal to the wing of the abutment on 23. The patient explained the bridge had been re-cemented on a number of occasions previously and that she was keen to have implants in the near future and did not want another bridge.
The dentist took a periapical x-ray of the area, which identified a large carious lesion with pulpal involvement and a periapical radiolucency. Even though the x-ray image was not clear, a buried root could also be seen at 22. The dentist did not record that a retained root was present at 22 - however, he did recall telling the patient about it, advising that it was deeply buried and as it was not causing problems, it could be left in situ.
Surgical removal was planned for 23 as the tooth was grossly decayed and had a long root. The dentist raised a flap, removed the tooth and resorbable sutures were placed. The patient did not return for a review and the dentist did not see the patient again.
One year later, the dentist received a letter of complaint. The patient reported that six
months after removal of the broken tooth (23), she had attended another practice to discuss implant treatment at the site of the 22 and 23. The new practitioner had advised the patient that in order to go ahead with dental implant treatment, she would need to have the retained root at 22 removed first as it was at the site where an implant would be placed. This would involve an initial surgical procedure, followed by a period of healing prior to implant placement.
The patient was confused as she was not aware of the retained root of 22 and understood that 23 had already been removed six months earlier. The new dentist showed the patient the retained root, identified following a cone beam CT scan and which on careful review was also visible on the PA film that had been forwarded following a records request.
The patient’s complaint to the earlier dentist was that he should have identified that there was another root present six months earlier. The patient stated that had she been informed of its presence and advised this root would also require removal before an implant could be placed, she would have opted to have it removed at the same time as the surgery to remove 23. The patient would have preferred to avoid an additional surgery, and this would have prevented having to wait a further six months for healing.
The dentist could recall telling the patient about the presence of the 22 root, however, the records did not reflect their discussions and there was no mention that a retained root at 22 had been identified.
The dentist’s initial thought was that as the retained root was asymptomatic at the time, he would not have removed it and felt there was no clinical indication for this.
Having further considered the situation, the dentist realised that his records did not reflect the nature of the conversation that took place with the patient when she first attended with the broken 23, including that the patient told him she wanted implants.
This was identified as an area of vulnerability. Concern was also raised in that the patient was not informed of all the risks of leaving a root in situ, including that a second surgical procedure would likely be required in the future prior to implant placement.
The dentist deliberated whether he would be prepared to offer a refund of the cost of the extraction at 23 in view of the patient's dissatisfaction, or alternatively, consider offering a contribution towards the cost of surgical extraction of 22.
It was considered that as the additional surgery to have the 22 removed could have been avoided, a contribution to this amount would be preferable. The patient was asked to send a copy of the treatment plan and invoice from the new practitioner to evidence the cost of 22 extraction.
A letter was drafted to offer the patient an apology and the complaint was resolved with a reimbursement of the out-of-pocket costs of the surgical extraction of the retained root at 22 as a gesture of goodwill.
LEARNING POINTS
Ensure that the records accurately represent what was discussed, any advice given and what outcome was decided on.
All relevant clinical findings need to be discussed with patients along with considerations on whether intervention might be indicated. This includes giving the patient information about options, including the benefits, risks and estimated costs of these options. If relevant, the patient should be advised on what could happen if they do nothing.
In this case, the patient had explicitly expressed that she wished to have implants placed in the edentulous site and the impact of leaving the root in situ was not identified or sufficiently discussed with the patient.
How Dr Kevin Kok turned obstacle into opportunity
Not
letting setbacks get in his way, Dr Kevin Kok was able to bring the vision for his practice to life.
Everything was going great for Dr Kevin Kok and his practice, Oryx Dental. Work was busy, he’d brought on a new associate, and his growing waitlist suggested a strong reputation in the Toorak area. Then, he received news the landlord was selling the building, and the new owners wanted to redevelop.
It was a stressful time, to say the least. Not that you would know from talking to Dr Kok, who opted for the silver lining in the whole situation.
‘It gave us the nudge to look for a new site and really fulfil our vision in exactly the way we wanted. I certainly saw it as a glass half full, where I finally could have this opportunity,’ he says.
A self-confessed ‘picky’ person, Dr Kok always knew running his own practice would allow him to make his own decisions on the technology he used, the quality of the equipment, and the level of care he could provide his patients.
Feeling uninspired by other dental practices and regular fit outs in the local market, Dr Kok took the opportunity of a new space to properly realise his vision.
‘I really wanted to create something which was different in terms of the space. I wanted a space which is very warm, inviting, and has a very established feel, where people feel very comfortable.’
When the St Germain building on Toorak Road was being restored, the developers were looking for established tenants in the area.
Dr Kok jumped at the opportunity to get in touch. ‘This particular building was one of the biggest developments in the inner southeast, and it was not a building that you could really easily ignore,’ he says.
‘I spoke to the developers about what I wanted for the space, and my idea of how I wanted the site to be. They liked what I was talking about in terms of how I wanted to fulfil that vision.’
Dr Kok worked with Jack Pinches from BOQ Specialist to fund the new practice and fit out. ‘BOQ Specialist have always provided an exceptional service to me in terms of taking the time and having the transparency to explain the various options available to me. Also, very importantly, they were able to offer very competitive rates.’
He also brought on interior designer Anouska Milstein of Studio A.mi to help bring his dream practice to life. ‘Their work really spoke to me, and after discussions with them it seemed like we could really see eye to eye in terms of the type of aesthetic of the practice that we wanted to fulfil,’ he says.
Dr Kok now sees the new and improved Oryx Dental as a modern, established, and impactful dental practice, which offers an exceptional level of care for the community.
‘My practice is a true extension of myself, and I find that extremely rewarding,’ he says. ‘We now have this space which allows us to start this next chapter on a really good footing.’
If you’d like to experience the difference of working with us, talk to one of our financial specialists on 1300 160 160 or visit boqspecialist.com.au
member news
World Oral Health Day
Remember, March 20 is World Oral Health Day (a global oral health day by the FDI World Dental Federation). The campaign theme for 2024-2026 is: A Happy Mouth Is…A Happy Mind! For information about the campaign, visit worldoralhealthday.org
Corporate partner tip
Our corporate partner, Small Robot, offers this handy tip for practices:
Microsoft 365 Business subscriptions have a range of security features that are not enabled by default, leaving many practices more exposed than they think.
Security features to protect your practice from phishing, account compromise and other cyber threats are there awaiting configuration. These are often provided as a part of your subscription and do not have a licencing cost to implement, all that is needed is the knowledge and experience to enable them correctly.
The team Small Robot can assist with this. Contact the team at Small Robot to secure your practice today, https://smallrobot.ai
Cracked Teeth dinner
It was a great turn at the Management of Cracked Teeth event, presented by Dr Graham Carmichael. Thank you to our Corporate partners, Panetta McGrath Lawyers and Bunnings Trade for providing great door prizes for some lucky attendees.
Healing Smiles clinic grand opening
Congratulations to the team at Healing Smiles, who celebrated the Grand Opening of their clinic in February. To enquire about volunteering with Healing Smiles, please email admin@healingsmiles.org.au
Australia Day Honours
We would like to recognise the following recipients of the 2025 Australia Day Honours:
Dr David Booth (dec) who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to dentistry.
Dr Patrick Shanahan (dec) who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to dentistry.
Hon. John Day who was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to the community.
Thursday 1 May
Join us for the next ADAWA General Meeting. The lecture will be by Dr Samuel Deng, who will present Mishaps During Root Canal Preparation. Event will be sponsored by Medifit. ADA House 54-58 Havelock St West Perth 6.15pm Eat and Meet
member news
CPD for your dental team
Are you looking for some CPD courses suitable for the dental team? There are several WA Dental CPD courses coming up that are suitable for dentists, ancillary staff and OHTs, including:
• Basic Posterior Composites (hands-on course on May 25)
• Practical Infection Control – the What, the Why and the How (on June 11)
• Bioclear Method (hands-on course on June 28)
• To book into these courses, go to our website, adawa.com.au/cpd
Thank you Dr Shah
Thank you to Dr Priyal Shah and Nyaree from Diabetes WA for a great workshop on All About Diabetes. There was a lot of heated discussion amongst the attendees on how patients with a history of Diabetes should be treated in an emergency situation. DMD 3 and DMD 4 dental students were invited to attend this event, and it was great to see some of them attend the event.
HIF Corporate Program
ADAWA members are entitled to a 12% discount on health cover each year when premiums are paid by direct debit. Existing HIF members need only call or email to have the discount applied to their membership. Visit hif.com.au/adawa and use the access code ADAWA Alternatively call HIF on 1300 13 40 60 or email sales@hif.com.au
Premium Partners
AMA Financial Services
Mortgage Broking, Financial Planning and General Insurance Broking. As financial planning, mortgage, and insurance broking specialists, we have a deep understanding of the unique complexities and challenges faced by businesses in your industry. Given our extensive experience working with health and medical professionals, we are pleased to offer exclusive discounts/benefits on our services to members of the ADA (WA).
Phone 1800 262 346 or email info@amafinance.com.au
Bunnings
Bunnings Trade can partner with your business to provide support with quotes, project management and product sourcing, even if it’s something we don’t stock in-store. Benefit from exclusive pricing* on a wide range of products and services. For more info on PowerPass or to sign up and link your existing membership, email Organisationswa@bunnings.com.au
*Terms and conditions apply. See trade. bunnings.com.au/powerpass for full details.
Smith
Coffey
For over 50 years, Smith Coffey has specialised in providing financial services for dentists. We offer expertise in taxation, superannuation, mortgages, and personal risk insurance. Trust us to help you achieve financial freedom while you focus on patient care. Contact us today! smithcoffey.com.au
Panetta McGrath Lawyers
We are excited to offer a member benefits program exclusive to ADAWA members. As a member of ADAWA, the member benefits program entitles you to an initial 30-minute consultation in person, by phone, or via video conference. ADAWA members are also eligible for a 15% discount on our standard hourly rates - ADAWA referral required pmlawyers.com.au
Medifit
Medifit is an award-winning dental design and construction company, providing a comprehensive solution for dentists and dental specialists looking to build new premises or renovate their existing practices. Established in 2002, the company has designed and built hundreds of successful practices across Australia from their Head office in Perth. Contact Medifit and get the practice you deserve. medifit.com.au
STS Group Australia
STS Group Australia is a family owned, WA business and industry leader in infection control and we have been serving the WA dental community for over 30 years. You’ll know us as Mocom Australia, offering a range of infection control and reprocessing equipment in Australia and New Zealand, STS Health, providing service and education throughout WA and STS Professional, manufacturer of infection control testing devices and related consumables. sts-group.com.au
BOQ Specialist
At BOQ Specialist, we understand that a highly personalised service is what dental professionals need. We offer a full range of finance products and services, tailored to your needs no matter where you are in your career. With over 30 years of experience in dental finance, our focus is on building long-term relationships with our clients so that you can make financial decisions that are right for you. boqspecialist.com.au
Small Robot
Small Robot, a boutique technology company, provide business critical services covering IT, cyber security, and unified communications. Our highly experienced team leverage technology to protect, power and simplify your business. We provide consulting, engineering & managed services. We focus on the technology so you can focus on your business success. www.smallrobot.ai
Dr Luiz Viegas Costa – new addition to the team
Perth Oral Medicine and Dental Sleep Centre is pleased to welcome Dr Luiz Viegas Costa to our team. With extensive international experience, Luiz is accepting new referrals for patients with orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, oral mucosal disease and salivary gland disorders. He is available for consultations at our West Leederville, Jandakot and Padbury locations.
T (08) 9376 6789
E admin@pomds.com.au
A West Leederville, Jandakot, Padbury W oralmedsleep.com.au
Dr Hui Loh Specialist Paediatric Dentist
Dr Rod Jennings and Toothbuds Paediatric Dentistry is excited to welcome Dr Hui Loh to our team of Specialists. Dr Hui is passionate about health equity and providing patient centred care for children and families from all backgrounds. With experience across metropolitan areas, rural and remote communities through the Royal Flying Doctor Service in WA, NT and SA. Having trained at Perth Children’s Hospital, Dr Hui is experienced in managing complex cases and emergency care for children. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Toothbuds and will be regularly visiting Bunbury to provide specialist paediatric dental care to families in the South West.
T (08) 6155 9899 W toothbuds.com.au
Dr Jeremy Lau – new addition to the team
Dr Jeremy Lau is a dedicated Oral Medicine Specialist who has joined the team at the Centre for Oral Medicine and Facial Pain. Jeremy is committed to providing comprehensive care in orofacial pain, dental sleep medicine, temporomandibular dysfunction, and oral pathology. He is currently accepting new referrals and will work closely with your patients, focusing on delivering the highest standard of care.
T (08) 6373 6731
E reception@omfp.com.au
A 1 Preston St, Como 6152 W oralmedfacialpain.com.au
The Centre for Prosthodontics welcomes Dr Soo Hee Lim, a specialist in Aesthetic, Restorative, and Implant Prosthodontics, committed to person-centered care. Fluent in Korean, she provides tailored care to diverse customers. Dedicated to collaboration, Dr Lim delivers exceptional outcomes, from simple restorations to complex rehabilitations, enhancing our commitment to excellence and innovation.
T (08) 9368 0888
A South Perth, Midland, Karrinyup W centreforpros.com.au
Dr Soo Hee Lim – new addition to the team
Coast puts it all together
West Coast Dental Depot has over twenty years experience supplying and installing dental equipment. We have the range, knowledge and experience to ensure you and your surroundings work in perfect harmony. From design through to completion, we will make your surgery transformation an easy and enjoyable experience – all within your budget. Talk to West Coast Dental Depot, we know how to put it all together.
“Kang represented my interests long after the initial offer was accepted. He used his clinical knowledge and corporate business background to make sure I put my best foot forward throughout the negotiation process, all the way to settlement. He managed risks and addressed my concerns – I couldn’t have achieved this without him.” - MH
PERTH 8-10 MAY 2025
Join your industry colleagues at Australia’s premier dental event of 2025!
The Australian Dental Congress offers an unparalleled opportunity to see national & international keynote speakers, network with peers, and explore the latest dental products and services at our expansive exhibition. Exclusive pre/post workshops available only to registered attendees. Be part of the leading CPD event for dental practitioners in Australia while enjoying the host city Perth!
Don’t miss this industry-leading event for our profession!