Haroon Latiff shares his journey into cosmetic dentistry and why Venus Pearl remains his composite of choice for bonding.
For Haroon Latiff, the path into dentistry was shaped early by family influence. ‘My uncle’s also a dentist. He’s achieved so much in his career, and that itself has been inspiring for me to watch,’ he explains.
But it was ultimately his mother who guided his decision: ‘It was actually my mum who encouraged me to do dentistry, and I’m so glad that she did, because I don’t know what job I’d do otherwise.’
The impact of modern dentistry
More than 10 years into his career, Haroon still enjoys the profession, but he is candid about its realities. ‘Something that would surprise non-dentists is how physically taxing the job is on the body,’ he says.
Long clinical sessions often take their toll: ‘When you’re doing these long appointments for about four or five hours, you can get yourself into these really weird positions.’
The cumulative impact is significant, even at a relatively young age. ‘I’m only 33 but I feel like I’m about 80. I’ve sustained almost every injury possible!’
Alongside these physical demands, Haroon highlights one of the most transformative changes in modern dentistry: social media.
‘The one change in dentistry that’s had the biggest impact on my practice is social media,’ he says. While he acknowledges it as ‘a bit of a double-edged sword’, its benefits have been undeniable.
‘I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. It’s how most of my patients have found me,’ he explains. Beyond patient acquisition, it has also become a powerful educational tool: ‘I’ve used it as a learning platform, and I’m sure lots of other dentists around the world have as well.’
Rewards and results
At the core of Haroon’s work is composite bonding. ‘The most rewarding part of that is transforming people’s smiles because of the impact it has on their appearance and therefore their confidence,’ he says.
More recently, however, his professional satisfaction has expanded into education. ‘I’ve been teaching dentists for over a year and a half, and I really get a nice feeling when delegates reach out to me and say that they’ve learned so much and their composites have improved.’
Seeing tangible results reinforces this: ‘I actually see that for myself in their before and afters… that, for me, is incredibly rewarding.’
Composite considerations
A key factor underpinning his clinical outcomes is material choice. Reflecting on his early career, Haroon says: ‘When I first started dentistry, there were so many composites to choose from, but every practice I’ve worked at has always stocked Venus Pearl, and that is no coincidence.’
Over time, his preference has remained consistent. ‘I’ve used lots of other composites before, but I’ve always gone back to Venus Pearl because it’s the most reliable and easy to use while still giving aesthetic results.’
For Haroon, predictability is essential. ‘I know that the composite is going to look good, but more importantly, it’s going to last a long time as well.’
He also values the material’s strength and handling characteristics: ‘Where Venus Pearl is so strong, I don’t have to make my edges super thick,’ he says. ‘I can keep my edges nice and thin, and therefore they’re still going to look natural.’
Long-term performance
Its long-term performance is another advantage. He says: ‘Its colour stability is really good… in years to come, the colour is going to hold out well and because of that, it’s excellent for managing discoloured teeth.’
One case in particular stands out. ‘It was a guy who came in, and he was a severe bruxer. He had worn his teeth down to like nothing, and he was told he needed a full mouth of crowns.’ Instead, Haroon chose a different approach. ‘I built them up in Venus Pearl, and eight years later, still standing. The results speak for themselves.’
For clinicians considering their material options, his advice is straightforward: ‘If you’re wondering what composite to use, Venus Pearl is a really nice one, because it’s very easy to use. It’s very reliable and it’s predictable… and, more importantly, it will last a long time as well.’
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This article is sponsored by Kulzer.
