# #305 El Dentista — Patric Saraby

An episode of [Dental Leaders Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1482901418), 20 Aug 2025, 1 h 41 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/f47b45cc/podcast/play/106464274/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-7-5%2F29c6c5a2-bae2-48c3-a6bc-081176cff7f5.mp3

Fresh from Barcelona's dental schools and thrust into the realities of UK practice, Patric Saraby brings a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to start a dental career. This Iranian-born, multilingual dentist shares his journey from A-level disappointment to Spanish success, and now to the coalface of NHS dentistry in Bournemouth. With brutal honesty about clinical mistakes, cultural observations that'll make you think twice about British attitudes to success, and insights on why communication trumps technical skill, Patric offers a masterclass in adaptation and resilience. His story isn't just about dentistry—it's about the immigrant mentality that drives excellence, the power of manifestation, and why sometimes the best path forward isn't the one you originally planned. In This Episode 00:01:35 - First job realities and the deep end experience 00:02:20 - What surprised him most about practice life 00:05:05 - NHS time pressures and appointment constraints 00:08:25 - Amalgam versus composite: the material debate 00:09:05 - Communication as half the job 00:15:15 - Persian philosophy and karma beliefs 00:18:30 - Religious perspectives and greater powers 00:23:05 - A-levels disappointment and plan B moments 00:28:40 - Spanish warmth and cultural connection 00:36:05 - Barcelona application process 00:42:30 - Language barriers and learning curves 00:53:50 - Blackbox thinking 00:59:40 - Corporate practice experience with Bupa 01:12:30 - Patient reviews and building reputation 01:16:15 - Manifestation and goal achievement 01:27:10 - Favourite periodontics lecture 01:34:15 - Fantasy dinner party About Patric Saraby Patric is an Iranian-born dentist who qualified from Barcelona after initially being rejected from UK dental schools. He currently works at a Bupa practice in Bournemouth, balancing NHS and private work whilst navigating his first year in practice. Coming from a dental family and speaking multiple languages, he brings a unique international perspective to UK dentistry.

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