Raj Ahlowalia's remarkable 33-year journey in a single practice reveals what true dedication to the craft looks like. From almost missing university entirely to becoming an internationally recognised authority on functional occlusion, his story challenges everything we think we know about dental careers. The son of a polyglot interpreter who hitchhiked from India to the UK, Raj stumbled into dentistry through a teacher's intervention, then methodically built expertise that took him from Biggleswade to the stages of Pankey and Spear. His time on Extreme Makeover taught him the crucial difference between patients who want cosmetic work and those who genuinely need rehabilitation—a distinction that shaped his entire philosophy of practice.In This Episode00:07:15 - Father's extraordinary hitchhiking journey from India00:19:20 - The accidental path to dentistry00:39:25 - First job and VT experience00:44:15 - Extreme Makeover TV breakthrough01:13:15 - Teaching at Pankey and Spear institutes01:28:00 - Blackbox thinking01:31:40 - Forced retirement due to spinal issues01:34:05 - Photography passion and flying adventures01:59:25 - Learning NLP and hypnosis techniques02:03:40 - Patient litigation experience02:15:00 - Fantasy dinner party02:15:25 - Last days and legacyAbout Raj AhlowaliaRaj spent his entire 33-year career at one practice in Biggleswade, evolving from VT to an internationally recognised expert in functional occlusion. He taught at both the Pankey Institute and for Frank Spear, appeared on the Extreme Makeover TV show, pioneering the first implant shown on British television, and developed a comprehensive approach to full-mouth rehabilitation that emphasises function over pure aesthetics.
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#311 Rebuilding — Ashkan Pitchforth
Ashkan returns to reveal how Southcliffe Dental transformed from near-bankruptcy to unprecedented profitability through a revolutionary therapist-led model. From losing half his body weight to facing GDC proceedings, he opens up about the personal costs of rapid expansion and the dark period when £4 million in clawbacks nearly destroyed everything. His ex-wife's intervention during his lowest moment becomes a turning point, leading to a complete business overhaul that's now attracting attention from private equity firms across the sector. Raw, unfiltered, and brutally honest about the realities of corporate dental leadership.In This Episode00:01:25 - Quality over quantity mindset shift00:02:50 - The £4 million clawback crisis00:06:00 - Revolutionary therapist business model00:17:35 - Organisational restructure and delegation00:25:30 - Leadership philosophy and high standards00:30:50 - Physical transformation journey00:46:45 - GDC proceedings and workplace allegations01:04:25 - Blackbox thinking01:17:05 - Clinical errors and patient management01:23:15 - Business decisions and banking relationships01:33:15 - Fantasy dinner party01:08:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Ashkan PitchforthAshkan is the CEO and co-founder of Southcliffe Dental Group, which operates 24 mixed NHS practices employing around 400 people. He pioneered an innovative therapist-led delivery model that has revolutionised the group's profitability, taking EBITDA from zero to 7-8 million within two years. A clinical dentist turned entrepreneur, he's known for his direct leadership style and willingness to challenge conventional dental business models.
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#310 The Long Road Home — Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh
Two Iranian dentists who took the scenic route to British dentistry, Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh's story reads like a masterclass in adaptability. From Tehran to Debrecen University in Hungary, then straight into the UK without ever having set foot in the country before, their journey showcases both the challenges and rewards of international dental careers. Now transitioning from NHS to private practice, they share candid insights about navigating visa dependencies, cultural differences between healthcare systems, and why being top of your class doesn't guarantee an easy path. Their conversation reveals how different countries approach dentistry, from Hungary's more invasive techniques to the UK's preventive focus, and why sometimes the most circuitous routes lead to the most rewarding destinations.In This Episode00:01:15 - Arriving in the UK without ever having visited before00:03:30 - Why they chose Hungary for dental education over Iran00:05:30 - First impressions of Hungary and cultural differences00:08:25 - Military service requirements forcing early departure from Iran00:10:15 - Financial challenges of studying abroad00:13:10 - Hungarian education system: oral exams and luck factors00:17:00 - Working in Hungary's NHS-equivalent system00:19:15 - Cultural differences: Eastern European "egg" vs Western "peach"00:25:15 - The decision to move to the UK post-Brexit00:29:50 - Landing NHS jobs sight unseen00:34:10 - Learning UK dentistry systems and mentorship importance00:38:30 - NHS complaint system challenges00:40:25 - The band system frustrations00:43:25 - Visa dependency limiting job opportunities00:47:00 - Transition to private practice00:52:55 - Future aspirations: cosmetics vs surgical specialisation00:59:15 - Darkest day: fear and uncertainty in early UK days01:03:25 - Blackbox thinking01:06:40 - TMJ dislocation during extraction01:10:25 - Being top of class vs visa reality check01:14:20 - Best dental lectures and mentorship value01:18:20 - Fantasy dinner party01:20:55 - Last days and legacyAbout Sara Khandan and Mahan MohagheghSara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh are Iranian-born dentists who graduated from the University of Debrecen in Hungary before relocating to the UK. After three years of practice in Hungary's public healthcare system, they moved to the UK and completed two and a half years in the NHS before transitioning to private practice. Sara is pursuing advanced cosmetic dentistry training, whilst Mahan is focusing on surgical procedures and implant dentistry. Both are planning to eventually open their own practice within the next five to six years.
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#309 Against the Odds — Kash Qureshi
From knife crime in East London to owning one of the capital's most successful dental laboratories, Kash Qureshi's story is one of remarkable transformation. At just 15, a violent altercation became the catalyst that changed everything, pushing him from a dangerous path towards an apprenticeship that would define his future. Now owner of Swiss Dent and a thriving denture clinic, Kash shares the raw realities of growing up on the streets, the technical mastery required in dental technology, and the leadership skills needed to build a business. This conversation explores how early adversity can forge unstoppable resilience, and why sometimes the most unlikely backgrounds produce the most determined entrepreneurs.In This Episode00:03:50 - Street life and knife incidents in Walthamstow00:07:10 - Finding dental technology through newspaper adverts00:11:15 - Apprenticeship training and specialisation paths00:14:25 - Why crown and bridge got outsourced to CAD/CAM00:17:00 - Clinical dental technician qualification and denture work00:26:05 - Transition from employee to business owner00:30:05 - Acquiring Swiss Dent with zero personal investment00:34:00 - Cold calling and door-to-door client acquisition00:39:30 - Clinical insights: overextended special trays revelation00:42:10 - Swiss system for aesthetic denture setups00:48:55 - Immediate loading implant techniques01:08:25 - Managing 100-200 cases daily at the laboratory01:18:25 - Blackbox thinking01:24:25 - Cash crisis: when payroll meets empty accounts01:26:40 - Fantasy dinner party01:39:35 - Last days and legacyAbout Kash QureshiKash Qureshi is the owner of Swiss Dent laboratory in London and operates a clinical denture practice. Starting as a 16-year-old apprentice at the very lab he now owns, Kash has grown the business from 7 to 18 employees whilst developing expertise in prosthetics and digital denture technology. He qualified as a clinical dental technician at 23, making him one of the youngest in the country at the time, and now trains dentists in digital denture techniques.
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#308 On the Rocks — Shameek Popat
Shameek Popat takes us on a remarkable journey from his early days as a Ugandan-born dentist to becoming a serial entrepreneur disrupting the oral care industry. After 23 years of successful practice ownership, Shameek sold to Portman Dental and launched Tooth Angel, a luxury, eco-friendly oral care brand that's challenging the sustainability narrative in dentistry. Now he's back with Disruptive Smiles, partnering with renowned educators to bring premium composite materials to UK dentists. This conversation reveals a man who's never lost his childhood curiosity, whether he's crafting whisky blends, designing sustainable toothbrushes, or simply asking the big questions about contentment versus pleasure.In This Episode00:02:35 - Philosophy and losing senses 00:05:10 - Personal adaptability 00:07:40 - Contentment versus pleasure 00:09:10 - Beauty in imperfection 00:11:40 - Tooth Angel sustainability mission 00:16:50 - Research-backed product development 00:20:15 - Manual versus electric preference 00:24:30 - Dentist-made products 00:34:25 - Investment and funding strategy 00:50:35 - Uganda origins and Idi Amin 00:53:15 - Education journey to Manchester 00:57:50 - Dental school with Avi Banerjee 01:00:30 - Early practice ownership 01:04:30 - Kois transformation 01:15:20 - Team retention philosophy 01:20:10 - Whisky passion projects 01:24:00 - Practice sale emotions 01:26:40 - Disruptive Smiles launch 01:35:40 - Blackbox thinking 01:47:00 - Fantasy dinner partyAbout Shameek PopatShameek Popat is a Kois-trained dentist who spent 23 years building and running successful practices before selling to Portman Dental. He's the founder of Tooth Angel, a luxury eco-friendly oral care brand, and co-founder of Disruptive Smiles, which distributes premium composite materials alongside clinical education. Born in Uganda and educated across three continents, Shameek brings a unique global perspective to everything he creates.
The Dental Leaders podcast takes you on a behind the scenes journey with emerging leaders in dentistry. Success leaves clues, and these conversations uncover the depth, detail, and backstory behind our guests.
The show is hosted by dental entrepreneurs Payman Langroudi & Prav Solanki. Let the conversation flow.
Find out more at https://www.dentalleaders.co.uk/
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