Episode Details

Welcome to the OHT pathways focus series by Dental Head Start. Listen to a limited series of interviews with OHTs that have taken the less traditional general practice pathway and used their scope to endeavour into a unique, different and fulfilling career. 

Hosted by Christina Potestas 

In this episode, I chat with dental hygienist Salik Faniad @sydneyhygienist who returns to the podcast with some pretty big changes in his career. Salik shares how his experiences and lessons learnt so far has helped him on his pathway of business ownership. We talk about how his business operates and the joys and challenges of running his very own dental practice as a hygienist, with nothing in his way to slow him down. 

NOTE: The discussions had in these series of interviews is only general advice and should not be considered an official outline of your scope upon graduating your Oral Health Therapy degree. Your university defines your scope of practice and should be your ultimate point of reference should you be unsure of what dentistry you are allowed to perform post graduation. 

Key moments

1. 0:00:32 – Introduction of guest Salik Faniad, a dental hygienist who has opened his own practice.
2. 0:01:49 – Salik’s journey into dentistry, including his work experience with Dr. David Moffett and his time in university.
3. 0:07:04 – Salik’s first job experiences after graduating, working in both specialist and general practices.
4. 0:10:00 – Salik’s initial challenges as a new graduate hygienist, feeling like just a “car wash” in the practice.
5. 0:11:22 – Salik’s motivation and decision to start his own business, Sydney Hygienist, rather than pursue dentistry.

Salik Faniad

Salik H. Faniad is an entrepreneurial force in the dental industry, co-founding Hills Dental Boutique and becoming widely known as “Sydney’s Hygienist” on social media. With over 13 years of experience, Salik has mastered the art of connecting oral health with overall wellness, specializing in periodontal therapy and preventative care.

Beyond his clinical expertise, Salik’s business acumen has made him a successful practice owner and leader. His passion for patient care extends to building a dental practice that values integrity, innovation, and patient-centered service. Through his journey from clinician to entrepreneur, Salik has gained deep insights into what it takes to manage and grow a thriving dental business, while always keeping the patient’s well-b