Hosted by Dr David Keir

Poker and dentistry: an unlikely pair with more in common than you’d imagine! 

Welcome to The Dental Mentoring Series, the series dedicated to helping dental graduates thrive in their careers. In this episode, Dr. David Keir reveals the surprising life lessons I learned from playing over a million hands of poker – and how they directly apply to your dental career.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why judging decisions by outcomes is holding you back





• How to handle “variance” when procedures don’t go as planned





• The dangerous concept of “tilt” and how it affects your treatment planning





• Why experience trumps theory every time





• The critical skill of knowing when to refer a case

These poker-inspired insights will transform how you approach difficult clinical situations, handle setbacks, and make treatment decisions. Whether you’re a new grad or experienced practitioner, these mental frameworks will help you maintain confidence and make better clinical judgments.

Ready to level up your dental game? Hit subscribe and share this episode with a colleague who could use these insights!

Key moments

00:00 – Introduction to Poker Lessons

03:10 – Decision Making with Limited Information

06:25 – Understanding Variance in Dentistry

09:21 – Recognizing Tilt and Poor Decisions

12:40 – Experience vs Theory in Practice

14:15 – Knowing When to Fold

16:21 – Reviewing Cases and Managing Resources

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Thank you to our sponsors…

Dental Protection Limited

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Dental Protection have proudly been supporting the Dental Head Start podcast since day one! The Dental Protection team understands the ever-changing challenges faced by dental professionals and we take our responsibility to members seriously. Our professional protection package helps you practise with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are always by your side if things go wrong. With over 40 years protecting Australian dental professionals, we have the global stability and financial resilience to be by you

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Dental Advice Network

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This episode of the Dental Head Start Podcast is proudly supported by Dental Advice Network.

Whether you’re one year out or forty, we all have clinical questions—and it’s OK not to have all the answers. That’s exactly why the Dental Advice Network exists. With leading experts like Dr Omar Ikram (Endodontist), Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen (Oral Medicine Specialist), Dr Steven Parker (Dental Sedationist), Dr Manu Ayer (Specialist Anaesthetist), Professor Ian Myers (Restorative expert), Dr Kar Mun Chan (Specialist Paediatric Dentist) and Associate Professor Geraldine Moses (Dental Therapeutics and Pharmacology expert), it’s your go-to place for clinical advice, case support, and evidence-based insights.

From medication queries to red flags in oral pathology—or even just a second opinion—Dental Advice Network connects you to trusted voices in dentistry and medicine, including an in-house medical doctor. You’ll also get access to clinical webinars, CPD content, and curated updates to stay ahead in your practice.

It’s peace of mind, peer support, and education—all in one place.

 And for Dental Head Start listeners, we’ve teamed up with Dental Advice Network to bring you an exclusive 10% discount when you subscribe. Just use the code HEADSTART10 at checkout. Plus—if you’re a first-year graduate, you already get a massive 50% off.

Check them out at dentaladvicenetwork.com.au, and thank you to Dental Advice Network for supporting the next generation of dental professionals and the Dental Head Start podcast.

The post Dental Mentoring Series #5 – Poker Secrets That Will Transform Your Dental Career appeared first on Dental Head Start.