Dr. Miguel, you are one of the Portuguese dentists with the most international lectures and conferences. What has contributed to this success outside Portugal? Why do people seek you out so much?

It’s true. I’ve been lecturing for almost 20 years. My first international conference was in 2004. Fortunately, I have the privilege of having relationships with some of the world’s leading organisations, who always try to bring some innovation and entertainment to their events and who always like to have speakers like me, with a lot of experience and who are committed to constant innovation. I believe that success mainly lies here: I am recognised worldwide, as is my clinic, for innovation and contribution to the future of dentistry.

Another important aspect is that I don’t sell anything. When I give a talk, I don’t go there to sell, I go there to inspire, to give my real testimony. And that’s the most important thing. I don’t sell courses, I don’t sell books, I don’t have shares in any company and that’s a key point.

Apart from that, I think the reason I’m always invited is because I do things ethically, I do things well, I finish my talks on time (laughs) and I try to align my talks with those of the other speakers. I always make a point of doing my homework and understanding who the other speakers are, to try and create a common thread between the talks, because talks aren’t just about giving information, they’re also about inspiring, entertaining and energising. So there has to be some storytelling. And people have to feel that it was worth paying for the ticket, traveling to the event, because they left with a memory and I believe that this has happened in my talks. And you only have to look at the fact that I’ve consistently participated in international events for 20 years. I think it’s an achievement and I’m very proud of it.

You mentioned the success of your clinic. Do you think they see that abroad? Do they recognise the White Clinic as an innovative, cutting-edge clinic?

Clearly. In fact, my lectures are connected to what we do every day at the White Clinic. Whenever I’m invited, I have a solid base of clinical evidence, of new, tested technologies that work.

Event organisers have to pay and they always try to make sure that this investment is safe. They usually do interviews beforehand with organisations and their leaders and ask for feedback about those organisations. And I feel good knowing that the feedback regarding my practice and my team is consistent and has always been positive. I make a huge daily investment in myself, my team, and my practice so that we can be at the forefront and so that we can practice the best dentistry. We try to document all the innovative protocols we do at White Clinic, based on science and clinical evidence.

We work with our partners in the industry to make sure that every time we give a conference, we present something true and well-founded, without thinking about marketing, but rather clinical evidence. And what does that mean? White Clinic is a laboratory of the future. It’s not just a dental clinic and it’s been part of my vision since I set up the clinic in 1999 to always have the best version of dentistry. It’s been a big sacrifice and a big investment, but I’m proud to know that it was and is worth it. Every year we invest in people, in new techniques, technologies and materials, and we are very attentive to what is coming onto the market. We always strive to be at the forefront of dentistry, which is perhaps why we are a world-leading and highly recognised dental centre. In this sense, it’s easy to choose the White Clinic as an example.

Curiously, in Portugal you participate in very few events. Can you draw any comparisons between Portugal and other countries?

Yes, that’s true. And I’d like to say that I’d love to participate more in Portuguese events and teach at Portuguese universities. I’m open to any invitation to do so. Now that I’m 52, I’d like to be able to help out more and contribute more of what I’ve learned abroad, here in Portugal. That’s a big dream of mine, to be able to contribute more to Portuguese dentistry. But I really think that Portugal is a case study. We have some of the most incredible dentists in the world.

There is a new generation of colleagues in their 30s and 40s doing incredible things and we have some senior colleagues who have been contributing to the impact of dentistry on a global level since forever. I think it’s an incredibly aggressive and difficult market. We have a population with little access to dentistry and in return we have an incredibly competitive market. We have a very difficult market and the future of Portuguese dentistry is also difficult. Something has to change. We have the rise of the big groups, which can be a very positive thing to make up a little for the lack of access to dentistry for families, but the fact is that Portugal is not a rich country and dentistry is expensive. And there is incredible competition in the labour market in Portugal. What’s more, there are too many dentists for the size of the country. That’s also a difference compared to abroad.

However, speaking specifically about the lack of participation in Portuguese events, I don’t have an explanation for this.

Based on your vast international experience, what advice would you like to give to young Portuguese dentists in order to have a career as internationally recognised as yours?

Above all, take your time. A career in dentistry is not a before and after on Instagram. It’s the patient who, ten years later, is still our patient. I have enough experience to know that longevity in this profession is based on ethics, responsibility, scientific knowledge and constant study.

Maybe people don’t know this, but the fact that I’ve been attending these international events for 20 years means that I have an average of 150 hours of continuous training each year. As well as having the privilege of being a speaker, I’m lucky enough to be able to complete my training.

And that’s one of the most important pieces of advice I can give. A dentist must always be learning, must have the humility to recognise that new information must be tested and implemented, as long as it is based on biology and science. And to do so, you have to be trained and make sacrifices. A lot of people think it’s great to be an international speaker, but for that to happen you have to make a lot of sacrifices, and that can be very tiring. You have to do a lot of preparation, spend many hours traveling… So, I don’t think it’s for everyone. You have to have a solid foundation to venture into these matters.

I’m fortunate to work with many colleagues from my clinic, some for over 22 years, who are with me every day and are holding down the fort. So, when I travel, I have a well-oiled machine working here. I’m not making such a big sacrifice, because the machine is well structured.

This is to explain that those who want to pursue an international career don’t have to ask anyone’s permission to do so. They just have to find something they’re passionate about, be patient and work hard. You can’t buy access to this universe. You must do things with intent, with purpose, with ethics and with consistency, above all. And let me tell you: if you are consistently well-mannered, structured, informative, friendly – which is also necessary – I’m sure your message will get through. If you are consistent, if your message is interesting, sooner or later you will find your niche and succeed. Be prepared to be criticised, to have a lot of competition, but above all, fight and don’t give up! If you’d like some suggestions, you can reach out to me. I’m happy to help.

And what message would you leave for colleagues who have been in the profession for many years?

Speaking now to those who have been in this very competitive market of the Portuguese dental industry for a long time, I say that we need to lower our reserves a little, to be less competitive with each other, because we are all trying to do the same thing, which is to boost Portuguese dentistry. And that’s not done with barriers, it’s done with synergies, with sharing.

In this sense, there should be less competition between universities, less competition between brands, less competition between clinics. Wrap your head around the idea that we’re all here for the same thing. We all have the same problems, the same challenges, and it’s sharing that wins, not competition. We all have a duty to help our community, serve our patients and contribute to Portuguese dentistry together.

*Originally published in Dental Tribune Portugal.