- When and where did you graduate?
I graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003—so over 20 years ago now. But honestly, I often tell people that graduation was just the beginning. Dentistry, like life, is a continuous learning journey. Every patient, every challenge, every mistake and success has been another layer of education, and I’ve committed myself to being a lifelong learner. I taught at Melbourne University and now I’m full circle training and teaching other dentists how to thrive in practice and at life with the PowerUp Residency through Dr Tiv Academy - When did you enter into private practice?
After graduating, I started in public dental. I had a mission. I wanted to take the then 3 year waiting list and make it 2 years. I would see extra patients, work through my lunch and never turn away a patient that was in pain. But that caused controversy. I remember being taken aside by some admin and senior clinicians and told “we don’t work like that here”. So I knew, that if I wanted to make a real difference, I’d have to do it myself – hence my turn towards private practice. I spent several years working as an associate across multiple clinics. That period was invaluable—I learnt how to adapt quickly, work under pressure, and earn patient trust in all kinds of environments. Country practice expanded my skillset clinically to a level I would never have dreamed. Eventually, I took the leap and opened my own practice. It was both terrifying and exhilarating, but it allowed me to create a space that reflected my vision of dentistry: calm, high-quality, patient-centred, and empowering. - Please describe your practice in a few words.
Balnarring Dental Centre is a 7-chair, full-scope family practice on the Mornington Peninsula. We blend cutting-edge technology with a boutique, calming atmosphere. Patients tell us they feel cared for here in a way they haven’t elsewhere—and that’s by design. It’s dentistry without the rush, where people feel safe, heard, and genuinely valued. What makes us different is that we don’t recommend treatment to patients. We use a dialogical framework to educate the patients on what we are observing, make them understand the pros and cons of different options and leave it up to the patient to choose what they want to do in their own mouths. It’s both challenging and exhilarating. - What is your greatest challenge in Private Practice dentistry?
There are two great challenges in private practice, infact in life generally, and that is understanding and handling both finances and people. I was very poor at both when I started in private practice. These are such fundamental skills but are dismissed in all our schooling. The good news for me was that I was so bad at both that I made it my lifelong mission to study, scrutinise and develop easy to use formulas for both. If I was already good, it would have been impossible to be motivated to become great at it. So as tough as my beginnings were, I appreciate them for the motivation to make me great at the things that are important. - What led you to dentistry &/or your specific area of interest?
I was drawn to dentistry because I wanted to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. When I was young I looked around and saw that medicine was handled. They were respected, well paid and basically just has to hold the status quo. Not in dental, it was (and still is mostly) disrespected and hated by the population. I saw an area that I could make a tangible difference in the lives of others. Over time, I discovered that my real passion wasn’t just the technical side—it was the human side. I became fascinated with communication, case acceptance, and the psychology of decision-making. This eventually led me to launch The PowerUp Residency, where I now coach other dentists to grow in confidence, master patient communication, and unlock the kind of clarity that transforms both their clinical results and their personal lives. - What lesson/s would have been valuable for you to learn before you started in Private Practice?
That patients don’t judge your margins—they judge your manner. You can deliver perfect dentistry technically, but if the patient doesn’t feel cared for, listened to, and understood, they’ll walk away dissatisfied. Communication is the real cornerstone of dentistry. That’s why I now teach dentists how to connect with patients in ways that build trust and long-term relationships. Clinical skills only come after interpersonal skills are mastered. Financial skills are best learned young so you can use the power of time to your advantage. - What’s your funniest or most memorable moment in Dentistry?
Funniest moment in dental school was when we were in fifth year we ran a mock lecture to the incoming first years on their very first day. I was the lecturer, and we had fellow, younger looking, fifth years infiltrated into the first year orientation class. The lecture topic was “The apical repositioning of a mucoperiosteal flap for the purpose of feral effect via crown lengthening surgery”. I delivered the lecture at high speed. When I asked complex questions the infiltrated fifth years would answer it correctly. The poor first years, they were gobsmacked and looked absolutely terrified. My final slide, before I walked out was “You’re at university now, don’t believe everything you are told”. I’d like to thing the reason that cohort as so many specialists was in some part due to that lecture. - What do you think will be different in Australian dentistry in 10 years?
We’re on the cusp of a shift from reactive dentistry to truly preventative, data-driven care. I believe we’ll see more Saliva Microbiome testing, AI-assisted diagnostics, and personalised health pathways. Patients won’t just come in to “fix” something—they’ll be armed with data that helps prevent disease before it even starts. Those dentists who can combine this innovation with authentic communication will be the ones who thrive. Learn to communicate and relate to people, it will be the only thing that will save you from being replaced by Ai. - What’s your passion outside of Dentistry?
Mentoring and coaching dentists has become my greatest passion. Seeing other clinicians transform their confidence, income, and patient relationships through PowerUp is incredibly rewarding.
But outside of that? I love exploring whisky distilleries, playing chess, designing solutions to problems in CAD and printing physical manifestations of my thoughts. For me, creativity fuels clarity. Whether it’s in music, strategy, or dentistry, I’m always looking for ways to remix ideas and bring fresh energy into everything I do.