# #301 Incidental — Chris O'Connor

An episode of [Dental Leaders Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1482901418), 23 Jul 2025, 1 h 54 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/f47b45cc/podcast/play/104270672/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-5-17%2Fadf58cd2-fa92-1e56-efed-c5e228761dbc.mp3

Chris O'Connor opens up about his journey from academic burnout to building Incidental, sharing hard-won insights about workaholic tendencies, clinical mastery, and the realities of running a dental supply business. This episode explores the darker side of perfectionism, the complexity of clinical decision-making, and how childhood experiences shape professional drive. O'Connor discusses everything from innovative matrixing techniques to the emotional toll of litigation, offering a brutally honest perspective on modern dentistry practice. In This Episode 00:01:00 - Newcastle move 00:01:45 - PhD research 00:03:00 - Clinical trials 00:11:15 - Career transition 00:15:10 - Workaholic tendencies 00:16:45 - Family background 00:21:25 - Workflow obsession 00:24:30 - Russian sanctions 00:26:30 - Founding Incidental 00:31:05 - Clinical weaknesses 00:36:25 - Patient experience 00:42:35 - Customer relationships 00:47:05 - Marketing approach 00:54:10 - Teaching philosophy 00:57:10 - Product development 01:02:30 - Regulatory challenges 01:04:20 - Parenting struggles 01:07:15 - Rubber dam techniques 01:12:35 - Matrix systems 01:19:50 - Blackbox thinking 01:25:25 - Complex cases 01:32:35 - Pricing structure 01:42:35 - Best lecture 01:46:50 - Future aspirations 01:48:15 - Fantasy dinner party 01:50:25 - Last days and legacy About Chris O'Connor Chris O'Connor is a dentist, dental supplier, and product developer based in Newcastle. He co-founded Incidental, a dental supply company known for innovative matrixing solutions and educational courses. A former clinical academic, Chris spent eight years at Newcastle Dental Hospital conducting research and teaching before transitioning to practice and business.

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