The Dental Practitioner
This series is specifically designed for dental professionals who want to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field of dentistry. It features interviews with respected healthcare professionals, industry experts, and experienced dental educators. By tuning in, you can gain valuable insights into the dental landscape in Australia and learn about the latest trends that are shaping the future of dentistry and oral healthcare. Each episode is packed with information that can help you enhance your practice, expand your knowledge, and provide your patients with the highest level of care. This exceptional resource is proudly presented by the Australian Dental Association NSW Centre for Professional Development. Don't miss out - tune in today and revolutionize your dental career.
The Dental Practitioner
A Rare Breed: The World of Special Needs Dentistry
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There are only 29 special needs dentists in Australia. Seven of them work in NSW. And 1.4 million Australians with profound or severe disabilities depend on someone else to brush their teeth.
In this episode of The Dental Practitioner, host Dr Cathleen Dong sits down with Dr Zanab Malik — special needs dentist, researcher, and founder of the AI-powered oral health app My Special Needs Dental Home — to unpack a specialty that most dentists have never fully encountered.
Zanab shares her journey from general practice and paediatric dentistry into one of the country’s smallest and most demanding specialties, what a day in her life actually looks like, and why she believes every general dentist is already seeing patients with special needs whether they realise it or not.
She also discusses the findings of her PhD into weight stigma in the dental setting, the critical importance of person-first language, and the practical steps any practice can take tomorrow to become more inclusive.
Topics covered: what special needs dentistry actually is and who it serves, the path to specialisation, general dentistry skills as a foundation, the education gap for new graduates, day-in-the-life of a specialist, PhD research on weight stigma, person-first language, practical inclusion strategies, bariatric dentistry and chair weight limits, and the AI app designed to close the access gap.
The Dental Practitioner is brought to you by the Australian Dental Association NSW. Find resources, episodes, and more at adansw.com.au.
If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments in dentistry, check out our upcoming CPD courses at adansw.com.au/cpd.