Your Dental Besties

What happens when one of the biggest names in technology enters the dental world?
In this episode of Your Dental Besties, Claire and Ben get into the launch of the Dyson toothbrush- from AI, cameras and water flossing to the much bigger question of what evidence actually sits behind the products we recommend.
They discuss the growing influence of social media and influencer marketing on oral-health advice, why a huge following doesn’t necessarily equal clinical credibility, and why dental professionals need to be able to look beyond the headline and interrogate the evidence for themselves.
The conversation moves into water flossers, misleading interpretations of research, fluoride and mouthwash, stannous fluoride, Tooth Mousse and why oral-care recommendations should never be one-size-fits-all.
Plus, Claire and Ben reveal that they’re heading back to university together to study for a PGCert in Menopause Medicine, and are already questioning how they’re going to fit it all in.
A proper Dental Besties conversation: evidence, opinions, clinical reality and a few questionable analogies along the way.

Do you ever finish a day in clinic and replay your appointments in your head, wondering what you could have done differently?
In this episode of Your Dental Besties, Claire and Ben tackle a question from a newly qualified clinician who feels incompetent, constantly overthinks their appointments and struggles to switch off after work.
They talk honestly about clinical confidence, comparison, CPD, mentorship and why asking another clinician for help isn't a weakness. From periodontal cases that simply won't stabilise to knowing when you've reached the limits of what you can achieve, they explore something clinicians at every stage of their career can probably relate to: you aren't supposed to know everything.
They also discuss the challenges of periodontal referrals, why some patients refuse specialist care, communicating the seriousness of periodontal disease and the value of having trusted colleagues to bounce difficult cases off.
And because this is Your Dental Besties, things inevitably go slightly off track, including a broken-down car, a "baby mole" that definitely wasn't a mole, and Ben deliberately giving himself gingivitis in the name of curiosity.
An honest, funny and reassuring conversation about dentistry, confidence and accepting that we're all still learning.
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With more dental hygiene and therapy programmes opening across the UK, Claire and Ben ask a big question: what does the future of the profession actually look like?
In this episode of Your Dental Besties, they imagine what they would include if they could design their own dental hygiene and therapy education from scratch- from oral-systemic health, women's health and behaviour change to mentoring, cultural competence and preparing clinicians for the realities of working in practice.
The conversation also turns to something many hygienists may be wondering: do you need to become a dental therapist to progress?
Claire explains why she actively chooses to be a dental hygienist and why she doesn't believe hygienists should feel they are being left behind, while Ben shares his experience of working across both hygiene and therapy and why progression doesn't have to look the same for everyone.
They discuss working to the top of your scope, finding the area of dentistry you're genuinely passionate about, the changing role of the hygienist and therapist, and what could happen if both professions were utilised properly within the dental team.
Because perhaps career progression isn't always about adding another qualification.
Sometimes it's about becoming exceptionally good at the job you already love.
Your Dental Besties- making dentistry fun!

1,300 miles. Two Dental Besties. One unforgettable road trip… and apparently absolutely no ability to keep hold of our belongings.
This week, we're taking you behind the scenes of our Canadian adventure- from Calgary to Banff, Lake Louise, Edmonton and one of the most beautiful drives we've ever experienced through the Canadian Rockies.
Claire and Ben talk spontaneous tattoos, bears, mountain “beavers”, questionable hotel choices, getting trapped in a car park, losing cameras and microphones, Canadian whitening strips that nearly took Ben's teeth out, and somehow deciding that a 12-hour drive was obviously better than a three-hour one.
But amongst the chaos, there was some dentistry too.
They reflect on attending and speaking at the GBT Summit in Edmonton, what was learned from dental professionals working internationally, and why stepping outside your usual dental bubble can completely change the way you think about your career, your patients and what's possible.
And somewhere between the mountains, glaciers, karaoke and 1,300 miles on the road, this became much more than a work trip.
It became one of those experiences they will probably talk about for the rest of their lives. ❤️
So grab a coffee (Ben certainly will), settle in and go on a Canadian road trip with Your Dental Besties.
🎧 Like, follow and share the podcast if you enjoy the episode, it genuinely helps YDB grow and keep making more.
Your Dental Besties - making dentistry FUN

Claire and Ben discuss what they have been up to. From Canada to Milan, they have been busy.
Ben discusses translational science and gives us some interesting insights into some plans he has coming up.
Have your say. Get in touch with team YDB to send us your Agony Aunt and Agony Uncle dilemmas. Send us your funnies. Give us topics you want to discuss. What guests do you want to see on the pod?
Email: yourdentalbesties@outlook.com
Insta: @yourdentalbesties @clairelouisesays @thegumsguy