Remember that first time you drove alone on your red P plates? That mix of freedom and sheer terror? That's exactly how Haydyn Bathurst describes his first days treating patients without a tutor looking over his shoulder.

This is Fresh-Out Fridays, where we sit down with early-career dentists who share the unfiltered truth about navigating those early-career moments that dental school didn't quite prepare you for. In this episode, we're catching up with Dr Haydyn Bathurst as he opens up about choosing the public pathway, juggling contract reviews during final exams, and learning to communicate with patients who comment on his youthful appearance. We'll explore how COVID reshaped his clinical training, why difficult patients can become your most loyal, and the unexpected satisfaction he's found in dentures of all things.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's brush up on what it takes to find your feet in those crucial first years.

If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments in dentistry, check out our upcoming CPD courses at adacpd.au.

What happens when four dental students start filming TikToks to make studying tooth morphology less boring - and accidentally become the most recognisable faces in Australian dental education? This is Next Gen, where we explore the diverse paths dental students take during their training.

In this episode, we're sitting down with Mustafa, Chris, Harish, and Troy - better known as Dropkick Dental - to hear how their viral social media presence has shaped their dental school experience and future careers.

From their rocky first meeting to accidentally creating dental TikTok content that resonates across continents, these four reveal the unexpected lessons learned from putting themselves online. We'll explore how they balance humour with professionalism, navigate criticism from qualified dentists, and use their platform to break down stereotypes about dental students. They share candid insights about the risks of being so visible, the networking opportunities that have opened doors, and how making mistakes online has actually prepared them to be better dentists.

From getting roasted in the comments to being recognised on campus, discover how these students are using social media to change perceptions of dental education - one viral video at a time.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's brush up on how to build a brand while building a career.

If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments in dentistry, check out our upcoming CPD courses at adacpd.au.

What happens when a last-minute acceptance letter changes everything? When you have 24 hours to pack up your life in Canada and chase a dental school dream in Australia? This is Next Gen, where we explore the unique journeys of dental students as they prepare for practice.

In this episode, we're diving into the unexpected path of Austen Oviatt, a Canadian-born fourth-year dental student at the University of Sydney who went from biology to computer programming to extractions - and has already completed over 70 of them!

Austen opens up about the whirlwind decision to leave everything behind for dental school, the challenges of being an international student navigating visa requirements, and why age and life experience can be your greatest assets in patient care.

We'll explore how working at Campbelltown Hospital's intimate clinic setting has accelerated his hands-on learning, from routine extractions to full clearances and emergency cases.

From shadowing oral surgeons to witnessing procedures go wrong (and how experienced clinicians handle the pressure), Austen shares honest insights about building confidence, managing complications, and the reality that even seasoned professionals get nervous. We'll also discuss the unique challenges facing international graduates - from contract negotiations to the financial conversations that dental school never teaches you.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's brush up on what it takes to leap across continents for dentistry.

If you want to stay up to date with the latest developments in dentistry, check out our upcoming CPD courses at adacpd.au.