Digital Dentistry + UAE: Most Digitally Connected Place on Earth (Sam Shah)
Description
Dr. Sam Shah is a clinician, advisor, and former startup founder. At WHX Tech he sat down with Tjasa Zajc to discuss the future of dentistry, oral health, and broader digital health innovation. He explains why dentistry has lagged behind other specialties, how oral health connects to overall wellbeing, and why the UAE stands out as “the most digitally connected place on the planet.” Sam highlights government-backed sandboxes, integration engines, and lessons other countries can learn from the Emirates—while also pointing to persistent challenges in standards, interoperability, and prevention.
Show notes:
00:00 – Introduction and Sam’s journey from dentistry to digital health
01:00 – Innovations in dentistry: apps, smart toothbrushes, imaging AI
02:00 – Why dentistry lags behind in digital adoption
03:00 – Oral health and its impact on overall health and wellbeing
04:00 – The social determinants of oral health
05:00 – Career across multiple domains: public health, startups, law, economics
06:00 – Why global solutions can’t simply be “lifted and shifted”
07:30 – What makes the UAE stand out: digital connectivity and government support
08:30 – Key government initiatives: Malaffi and Dubai Sandbox
10:00 – Cooperation between federal and emirate levels
11:00 – Lessons for other countries: leadership that listens
12:00 – Areas for improvement: standards, interoperability, prevention
13:00 – Longevity, wellness, and the need for value-based care
United States
