In this episode of the Two Reds podcast, Chris Barrow is joined by Dr Paul Abrahams of Smile More Dental Care in London for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about career longevity, practice ownership, innovation and exit strategy.

With Ashley Latter away in Australia, Chris and Paul take the opportunity to explore Paul's remarkable journey from an uncertain start in the early 1980s, through qualification at Guy's in 1989, to building and eventually selling a highly respected two-surgery private practice in St John's Wood.

Paul reflects on the early influence of retail training at Marks & Spencer, the importance of mentors, and the role played by his long-standing principal and friend in shaping both his career and his outlook. There is a strong message here for younger dentists about the value of guidance, patience and backing yourself when opportunities appear.

The conversation then moves into ownership. Paul shares the story of acquiring what was, in effect, a doer-upper squat in one of London's most affluent postcodes, and how he built that business steadily over more than two decades. Rather than chasing scale for its own sake, he chose to create what Chris describes as a successful lifestyle business, rooted in community, family patients and long-term trust.

There is also a fascinating discussion about innovation. Paul explains why he has always been drawn to new ideas, from cosmetic dentistry in the early days to digital scanning and chairside technology more recently. His view is simple, the only constant is change, and practices that stay curious tend to stay relevant.

Finally, Chris and Paul discuss the decision to sell into Dentex, the importance of timing, and the emotional reality of letting go. Paul offers a particularly valuable insight for anyone considering a sale, if you are not ready to give up control, you may not yet be ready to sell.

This is a warm, honest and intelligent conversation with one of dentistry's genuinely good people. For young owners, established principals and anyone thinking about what comes next, there is much to take away.

In the latest edition of Two Reds are Better than One, we woke up super early, to interview Franck Page, the owner of Coastal Dental Care in Australia's Gold Coast, and Julia Riese, the Group Director of Marketing & Operations.

Franck, who graduated in 1993, quickly became a part owner of a dental practice within a year. His passion for practice ownership has led him to expand his group to 17 offices, a wholesale dental business, two labs, 83 clinicians, and 300 staff members.

His innovative business model, which he discusses in detail, involves part ownership of practices with other clinicians. This approach not only provides capital for acquiring additional practices but also attracts top talent by giving clinicians a vested interest in the business.

In this insightful podcast, our listeners will discover:

• The rationale behind Franck's business model of part ownership with clinicians and its successful implementation.

• Insights from Julia and Franck on the importance of cultivating a strong company culture and ensuring each office has excellent practice managers and reception teams.

• How attracting top-tier talent is essential for success.

• Julia's four essentials framework from her book "Beyond Dentistry," which includes Team, Systems, Planning & Analysis, and Marketing.

• The significance of meticulous attention to detail and how small daily changes can lead to significant results.

• Strategies for managing the threat posed by large health companies encroaching on their business.

• The necessity of delivering "The Ultimate Experience" to retain patients.

And much more.

In today's episode of our podcast, hosts Ashley and Chris had the distinct honour of interviewing the esteemed Dr. Howard Farran.

Dr. Farran, DDS, MBA, is the visionary founder and owner of Dentaltown.com and Dentaltown magazine. With over three decades of experience practicing dentistry at Today's Dental in the Phoenix metropolitan area, he is a luminary in the field. Notably, in 2017, Incisal Edge magazine recognized him as one of the 32 most influential figures in dentistry.

Since 1990, Dr. Farran has been an international lecturer, renowned for his candid, humorous, and practical insights into the business of dentistry, often addressing the industry's most challenging topics. His unwavering dedication to empowering dentists to deliver faster, easier, higher-quality, and cost-effective dental care remains a driving force in his career.

His acclaimed podcast series, "Dentistry Uncensored," has been a staple in the industry for decades, boasting over 1,500 episodes and more than 8 million downloads. Both Ashley and Chris have had the privilege of being guests on this influential podcast.

Dr. Farran's reach extends to hundreds of thousands of dentists worldwide, supported by a robust social media presence, including 300,000 followers on Facebook, 25,000 on Twitter, and 35,000 on LinkedIn, along with 250,000 registered members on Dentaltown.com.

In this episode, Dr. Farran shares his expert perspectives on several key topics, including:

• The critical importance of maintaining laser focus on your business

• Mastering your financial metrics

• Building a network of powerful mentors to propel your career

• Cultivating trust with patients and its long-term benefits for a dental practice

• His insights on AI and its potential to revolutionize dental practices

• His excitement about future developments in dentistry

Prepare to be inspired by the dynamic and insightful "Howard Farran Experience." If you haven't experienced Dr. Farran's unique perspective before, you're in for an enlightening experience.