Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Dr George Liao of Kippax Dental in Canberra combines dentistry with a mix of K-pop comedy to create YouTube videos which are watched by millions.
“I graduated from the University of Queensland in 2018 but Canberra is home, so I returned here to first work as an associate in another clinic before setting up my own practice, Kippax Dental in Holt, only a few months back.
“I always wanted to create a YouTube channel because I needed a creative outlet. Dentistry can be demanding and intensely clinical, so the channel gave me the escape I need from the serious side of the profession.
“My first attempt was three years ago and was a business channel, but I was too shy to appear on camera and soon ran out of ideas. Then I started thinking about the issues surrounding dentistry and realised they could form the basis of another channel. Dentistry is such a large part of my life and something I genuinely enjoy, so I knew I would never run out of things to discuss. And this time I decided to put my face to it.
“Dentists have traditionally been seen as sensible and straitlaced but that image is changing. Many dentists now use funny videos, memes and other content to humanise themselves and communicate in a more approachable way.
“My channel is drgeorgeliao and I am now the second-most organically subscribed Australian dentist on YouTube. I describe my content as ‘dental-tainment’, as it’s designed to be easy and entertaining to watch while offering useful information. If someone has previously had a bad experience with a dentist, I hope my videos show them dentistry can be approached differently.
“The content covers a mix of patient education, dental issues, music parodies and longer-form videos. I have always enjoyed music parodies, so I had a go at making my own when the movie KPop Demon Hunters became popular. I created a dental parody of the Saja Boys song ‘Your Idol’, and the video had 1.6 million views, and continues to attract about 3000 views a day. These days, the channel now has over 13,000 subscribers.
“A video can take several weeks to develop, film and edit, so I try to release something every six weeks. The ideas usually come from my own interests. I collect Pokémon, and I’m currently developing a parody that combines Pokémon characters with dental themes. When I’m genuinely interested in the subject, I find I make better content.
“Patients tell me they enjoy seeing another side of me, and parents show the videos to their children to make them more enthusiastic about visiting the dentist. I eventually want to play videos in the waiting room and use them to reinforce the information we give patients. It allows everyone to receive the message in a more engaging form.
“In the long run, I want people to enjoy the videos and come away thinking about dentistry more positively. If they are also reminded to book their next appointment, and to floss their teeth, then the channel has done its job.”
