A “Former Celebrity Dentist” Has Been Shot Dead By Police In Potts Point

A man shot dead by police after he allegedly assaulted two women and threatened officers in Sydney’s Potts Point has been identified as former celebrity dentist Dr Steven Lin.

Dr Steven Lin, author of The Dental Diet, died from a single gunshot fired after he lunged at officers with a knife. Earlier attempts to Taser him had been unsuccessful.

Police were called to an apartment on St Neot Ave at around 10.50am, following reports a man armed with a knife had entered the complex and attacked two women. Police said Lin attacked one of the women in the building’s laundry before ascending to a separate floor and attacking a second woman after forcing his way into her apartment. Both women were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in a stable condition. The woman attacked in her apartment was expected to undergo surgery on Tuesday for a broken nose.

Today the Daily Telegraph identified the man as Dr Lin.

The celebrity dentist, formerly of Helix Dentistry on the Central Coast, had a large Instagram following of over 250,000, and was the author of the bestelling The Dental Diet, as well as the host of the podcast Mouth Brain Connection. According to the Telegraph, Lin’s family say he started a methamphetamine-induced downward spiral mid 2024.

Days before his death, Dr Lin faced Wollongong Local Court charged over allegations he choked and assaulted a sex worker and stole $2000 from her in March 2025. He was due to face court on several charges this year, including for breaches of an apprehended domestic violence order in March.

It is unclear if Lin was affected by drugs at the time of Tuesday’s attacks.

“Police were responding to help people in distress,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, today someone has lost their life. That is tragic.”