Revolutionizing Dental Care with AI: Leadership, Innovation, and Giving Back with Amreesh Khanna

02/05/25 • 46 min

In this episode, Tim welcomes Amreesh Khanna, a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of OraQ, a company revolutionizing the dental industry through clinical AI solutions. Amreesh shares how OraQ is standardizing patient exams, empowering patients with transparency, and strengthening the patient-clinician relationship through informed decisions and trust. He explains how dentists play a crucial role in identifying and preventing systemic health issues such as cardiac and respiratory problems. Amreesh also highlights the potential of AI in healthcare, including its ability to predict patient outcomes and personalize treatment plans.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Amreesh discusses his passion for community service and his work with the nonprofit organization Cause to Smile, which aims to empower the dental community and support local initiatives. He reflects on the importance of balancing professional ambitions with giving back and shares insights on leadership, decision-making, and reframing failure as a learning opportunity. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about innovation in healthcare, leadership lessons, and the power of community impact.

About Amreesh Khanna

Dr. Amreesh Khanna refers to himself as a professional tooth enthusiast, more commonly known as a Dentist. He has a deep passion for the integration of AI/ML in clinical applications and is at the forefront of advancing precision dental care through his start-up, OraQ AI. This company is dedicated to redefining ethical dental practice growth by prioritizing optimal patient care.

With over 17 years of clinical dental experience, Dr. Khanna has encountered numerous challenges and successes on his entrepreneurial journey as a dental practice owner. In terms of patient care, he has been involved in complex treatments, including dental implants, bone and gum grafting, IV conscious sedation, dental sleep medicine for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, and oral rehabilitation for individuals with complex TMD, tooth wear, and bite concerns.

Dr. Khanna remains actively engaged in his field as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Additionally, he has established his own dental education platform called ADEPT Dental Education, which aims to drive accelerated growth on the clinical and business sides of Dentistry.

Community involvement has always held great importance in Dr. Khanna’s life. As a dental student, he founded the SHINE Dental Clinic in Edmonton to provide dental care to those in need. He also leads a non-profit organization called Cause to Smile, which strives to "do good beyond the walls of our clinics."

Away from his professional endeavors, Dr. Khanna enjoys traveling with his wife and two young daughters, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Resources discussed in this episode:

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Amreesh Khanna | OraQ AI:

Transcript

Amreesh 00:01

There's no failure in leadership if we are reflecting on it appropriately. There's good leaders and bad leaders. But if we're those honest leaders that are constantly reflecting about what we're doing, why we're doing, you know, like all these things, that we're thoughtfully and genuinely trying to do what's best, well, if that's the case, then there shouldn't be any failure in leadership too. Because without having the ups and downs and things working and not working, how would we even be where we are today, or able to do it right?

Tim 00:33

I'd like to ask you some questions. Do you consider yourself the kind of person that gets things done? Are you able to take a vision and transform that into action. Are you able to align others towards that vision and get them moving to create something truly remarkable? If any of these describe you, then you, my friend, are a leader, and this show is all ...

About Amreesh Khanna

Away from his professional endeavors, Dr. Khanna enjoys traveling with his wife and two young daughters, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Resources discussed in this episode:

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Amreesh Khanna | OraQ AI:

Transcript

Amreesh 00:01

Tim 00:33

Previous Episode

Karen Dommett - Belonging Starts Here: Fostering Inclusion Through Connection and Curiosity

In this inspiring episode, Karen Dommett, Manager of Games and Competition at Special Olympics Canada, joins the podcast to share her journey from rural Saskatchewan to her impactful role in inclusive sports. Karen shares with Tim and listeners how her love for boxing not only shaped her sense of community and resilience but also empowered her to compete and win the Western Canadian championships. She highlights the transformative power of sports in fostering belonging, building confidence, and creating opportunities for connection.

Karen delves into her work at Special Olympics Canada, emphasizing the social impact of major sporting events and the importance of creating environments of psychological safety and inclusivity. She shares her leadership philosophy, which is grounded in guiding principles, human connection, and fostering a culture where everyone feels they truly belong. Karen also discusses how Special Olympics is changing perceptions of people with disabilities and calls for community involvement ahead of the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Tune in to hear Karen’s unique insights on the long-term cultural benefits of inclusive sports, the challenges of leadership, and how we can all make a difference by fostering authenticity and inclusion in our own communities.

About Karen Dommett

From the rural landscapes of Saskatchewan to the national stage of Special Olympics Canada, Karen Dommett has built a career grounded in resilience, passion, and the transformative power of sport. As the Manager of Games and Competition for Special Olympics Canada, Karen brings a wealth of experience in fostering inclusion and creating life-changing opportunities through sport.

Karen's journey began as a determined young athlete convincing her farming parents to let her take up boxing—a path that not only taught her grit but also revealed her ability to adapt and excel. Her tenacity led her to a Western Canadian Championship title, where she mastered the art of turning challenges into advantages.

With a degree in kinesiology and a love for the collective energy of major sporting events, Karen found her calling in sports administration. From contributing to the World Juniors in Saskatoon to leading national-level competitions, Karen has dedicated her career to creating moments that inspire athletes, build communities, and develop future leader

Resources discussed in this episode:

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Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Karen Dommett | Special Olympics:

Linkedin: Karen Dommett

Transcript

Karen 00:01

I think everything I've ever learned or felt like the outcome always landed back to in an inclusion moment or social impact or any deep achievement, it's always rooted back to people first and true connection. And whenever there has been that upfront investment in that time, and building that psychological safety, building that connection, and always peeling back that like just people are people are people, man, the efficiency, the return on investment, on human connection, it makes those hard, difficult situations so much easier.

Tim 00:40

I'd like to ask you some questions. Do you consider yourself the kind of person that gets things done? Are you able to take a vision and transform that into action? Are you able to align others towards that vision and get them moving to create something truly remarkable? If any of these describe you, then you, my friend, are a leader, and this show is all about and all for you. I'm Tim Sweet, and I'd like to welcome you to Episode 49 of the Sweet on Leadership podcast.

Tim 1:12

Welcome to Sweet on leadership. Thanks again for joining me today. I am thrilled to welcome a truly inspiring leader in the world of inclusive sports. Karen Dommett. Karen, thanks for being here. I really appreciate it.

Karen 1:23

Yeah. Thanks so much for having me.

Tim 1:25

From your roots in rural Saskatchewan in your early days as a boxer, which, that's one of the connections that you and I have, because boxing is something that has been a very special part of my life. To your current role of Manager of Games and Competition at Special Olympics Canada. You know, I look at your journey, and it's one of resilience, it's one o...

Next Episode

Jared VanderMeer - An Eye For Making An Impression On Social

In this episode of the Sweet on Leadership podcast, Tim chats with marketing expert and content creator Jared VanderMeer as he shares his proven approach to long-term brand success. He emphasizes the power of a well-structured touch point cycle, where consistent and authentic content builds trust and drives engagement. Instead of chasing quick ROI, Jared urges businesses to focus on lifetime customer value and to track meaningful metrics like watch time and impressions over vanity likes. With a 90-day commitment to content creation and a strategic marketing budget, businesses can create lasting connections that lead to sustainable growth.

Tim and Jared dive into the myths of social media success, the importance of storytelling, and the balance between quality and quantity. They explore why brands should showcase real-life applications of their products instead of aiming for perfection, and why avoiding shortcuts is key to long-term impact. If you’re ready to shift your mindset from instant wins to building a brand that truly resonates, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you make it happen.

About Jared VanderMeer

Jared VanderMeer is a digital marketing specialist, public speaker, and entrepreneur. He’s also the creative muse and pioneering spirit behind Magnolias Consulting Group in Canada. From podcasting and videos to blogs and books, Jared is dedicated to driving home the importance of value-based marketing in our modern digital era.

If there’s one thing that defines JV above all else, it’s being a Canadian content maker. In the past few years, he has poured all his effort into expanding JV content into all the formats technology has made possible. As an agency owner, JV helps clients grow their businesses on a daily basis, but as a content creator, he takes that goal a step further by sharing his knowledge and experience with brands on a larger scale.

JV's debut book If You Sell, You Lose is a step-by-step guide on how to add value to your brand through your digital marketing. It’s just one piece of the larger vision Jared holds for marketers, brand and business owners, and startups. You can also grab free guides, templates, content maps, and more at www.jaredvandermeer.com.

Resources discussed in this episode:

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Contact Jared VanderMeer:

Transcript

Jared 0:01

What I try to do is get leaders and individuals to understand that you have to think about it just slightly differently. Create a touch point cycle. Create a brand, validate that brand, create a whole bunch of touch points in a circle, and when the timing's right, you're going to capture that customer. You're going to capture that lifetime value. Very, very few, I would say under 2% of leaders are thinking long term, lifetime value rather than ROI, and that's what we want to try to change the conversation to.

Tim 0:33

I'd like to ask you some questions. Do you consider yourself the kind of person that gets things done? Are you able to take a vision and transform that into action? Are you able to align others towards that vision and get them moving to create something truly remarkable? If any of these describe you, then you, my friend, are a leader, and this show is all about and all for you. I'm Tim Sweet. Welcome to the 51st episode of the Sweet on Leadership podcast.

Tim 1:06

Hey everybody, welcome back to the Sweet on Leadership podcast. Once again, we're joined by a very eclectic and interesting leader, somebody with a perspective that I am sure none of you will have. This is my good friend. And actually, I guess, family by marriage. Jared VanderMeer, Jared, thanks for coming on the show today. I really appreciate it.

Jared 1:26

Thanks for having me, Tim, thanks.

Tim 1:...