In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host and Regional Support Manager, Ian Eslick, is joined by dental specialist financial advisor at Wesleyan Financial Services, Magdelena Harding, to talk about financial planning for retirement. What you’ll hear: Current trends of when dentists are choosing to retire Why retirement planning is especially important for dentists compared to other professionals Most common misunderstandings dentists have about the NHS pension What a sensible re...
May 08, 2026•11 min•Ep. 445
In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, host, Nigel Jones, is joined by Sonia Szamocki, CEO & Founder of 32Co to talk about bridging the gap between speciality care and general dentistry. What you’ll hear: Sleep Apnoea and how dentistry can help Underestimating dentistry's importance to wider health care How sleep quality treatments can be life changing Why the gap between medicine and dentistry is artificial
May 01, 2026•31 min•Ep. 444
In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Laura Hills, is joined by Victoria Vickery, founder of All Star Marketing Club to talk about marketing messages, buyer psychology and what they mean for your dental practice. What you’ll hear: What is buyer psychology and why is it important to dental practices Why some patients seem interested in treatment and then delay or go quiet What practices should think about when it comes to buyer psychology....
Apr 24, 2026•16 min•Ep. 443
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host Hazel Dockery is joined by special care dental nurse, Lisa Andrews Davies, to discuss how nurse-led clinics can help with anxiety management around dental treatment. What you’ll hear: The importance of being honest about your worries/concerns about visiting the dentist The consequences of not having treatment for someone with anxiety around dental care Ways in which nurse-led clinics can be developed...
Apr 17, 2026•21 min•Ep. 442
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host Hazel Dockery is joined by Regional Support Manager, Donna Hall to discuss plans and what to do when your plan and pay-as-you-go prices are out of kilter. What you’ll hear: Causes of plan and pay-as-you-go prices being out of alignment Effects to the business if your pricing is incorrect How to approach changing a pricing structure Advice if your plan and pay-as-you-go prices are currently out of alignment...
Apr 10, 2026•12 min•Ep. 441
In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, host, Nigel Jones, is joined by Tim Boyle, Director of Sales and Business Development at REVA Global Medical to talk about virtual assistants and making the best use of team resources. What you’ll hear: The effects of admin burnout The importance of the patient experience for practices Whether AI can help with supporting the administrative side of practices How the relationship works for patients dealing with virtual assistants...
Apr 02, 2026•20 min•Ep. 440
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host Donna Hall is joined by Wesleyan Financial Services Dental Specialist Financial Advisor, Dan Atkins, to discuss about how practice owners can stay financially resilient in a rapidly shifting economic landscape. What the episode covers: Key financial pressures affecting dental practices in 2026 Why now is the ideal time to review both personal and business finances The essential financial foundations every Principal should prioritise Stra...
Mar 27, 2026•17 min•Ep. 439
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery, sits down with Tracy Pound, Managing Director of business management consultancy, Maximity to talk about cyber security and the risks for dental practices. What you’ll hear: The risks to dental practices of a cyber attack Why keeping digital equipment up to date is vital for security The consequences of a hack for dental practices The importance of using multi factor authentication and how to keep an eye out for phishing ...
Mar 19, 2026•30 min•Ep. 438
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Suzanne Maxwell, Practice Owner of Drymen Dental Care, sits down with host and Regional Support Manager, Selina Alexander to discuss her move from NHS to private practice and how it has benefitted her team and patients. What you’ll hear: What sparked the decision to move from NHS to private practice The patients’ response to the decision The key moment Suzanne realises she had done the right thing How the practice has changed, post conversion...
Mar 13, 2026•9 min•Ep. 437
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host, Donna Hall, sits down with fellow Regional Support Manager (RSM), Josie Hutchings, to talk about her 25 years in dentistry and reflect on what it’s been like supporting dentists to change their lives for the better. What you’ll hear: Dentists’ fears 25 years ago and in 2026 Real life stories about how a conversion has changed someone's life for the better Advice to anyone still unsure about whether to stay in the NHS How our RSMs suppor...
Mar 05, 2026•8 min•Ep. 435
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery, sits down with team performance specialist, Mark Topley, to discuss his new practice manager bootcamp. Run over 5 months, it’s designed to help participants build the confidence to lead clearly, handle challenging conversations, strengthen communication skills, and implement practical systems to manage their teams in a structured, sustainable way. What you’ll hear: How the Practice Manager Bootcamp came about Points cover...
Feb 27, 2026•15 min•Ep. 434
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery, sits down with Pat Langley, Founder and Chief Executive of Apolline Ltd, to discuss how compliance is more than just policies and tick boxes. What you’ll hear: Definition of compliance How to change the mindset about compliance The values of a mock inspection Recommended training around compliance One thing every dentist needs to understand about compliance...
Feb 18, 2026•27 min•Ep. 433
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, guest host, Hussein Hassanali, from Thorpe Dental Group speaks to Dr Aditi Bhalla, a specialist dentist, about Compassion Focused Dentistry. What you’ll hear: How Aditi developed her interest in Compassion Focused Dentistry The Dental Wellbeing Hub and the resources available on it How she creates and builds a community online How to join her sessions and become part of the Dental Wellbeing Hub. Website link: https://draditibhalla.com/dental-...
Feb 05, 2026•18 min•Ep. 432
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery sits down with mixed practice owner, Amit Jilka, who has five sites across Staffordshire to discuss his take on the upcoming NHS contract changes in England. What you’ll hear: How the current NHS contract is performing His views on the proposed lengthening of the recall period Whether he believes this is a step towards the NHS becoming a core service only The part membership plans will play in dentistry under the new contr...
Jan 30, 2026•18 min•Ep. 431
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Cathy Murphy from Christie & Co, sits down with host, Hazel Dockery, to offer insights into the dental practice sales market and how it is looking in 2026. What you’ll hear: - The increase of first-time or independent buyers’ purchasing practices - When it’s best for a seller to contact a broker such as Christie & Co to achieve their optimum sale value - What’s hot and what’s not in practice sales - Cathy’s personal view of how the de...
Jan 23, 2026•21 min•Ep. 430
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Regional Support Manager, Donna Hall, sits down to discuss switching plan providers, working with Practice Plan and what type of support you need for your practice. What you’ll hear: Bespoke and tailor-made membership packages and marketing with Practice Plan Aid in moving over patients across from previous provider and keeping in communication with the patients during the transition Fully training your staff around the changes of moving prov...
Jan 16, 2026•10 min•Ep. 429
In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, Nigel Jones chats to Simon Thackery, Practice Owner and President of the British Association of Private Dentistry about the changes in dentistry moving into 2026. What you’ll hear: Their thoughts on why the Chancellor has called for an inquiry by the CMA into private dentistry costs Their views on the current dental landscape and the costs associated with working within private dentistry How the recently announced changes to the NHS dental contract mi...
Jan 09, 2026•35 min•Ep. 428
In our latest Practice Plan bodcast Laura Hills gets to know more about our newest Regional Support Manager, Kirsty Munn. Kirsty fills us in on her career so far, how she sees her role at Practice Plan and what she hopes to bring to her practices in the coming months. What you’ll hear: Kirsty’s career before heading into the world of dentistry What attracted her to joining Practice Plan Previous career success stories that reflect how she would like to support clients going forward Her goals for...
Dec 30, 2025•7 min•Ep. 426
In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, Nigel Jones is joined by Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, to discuss all the recent news stories and changes in dentistry heading into 2026 and beyond. What you’ll hear: Thoughts on the recent UK Autumn Budget The recent headline about the Chancellor calling for an inquiry by the CMA around private dentistry costs The reaction to the changes in the NHS contract in Wales in 2026. * Note: This episode was recorded before the recent...
Dec 22, 2025•33 min•Ep. 427
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Regional Support Manager, Amy Hansford, sits down with Victoria Vickery, founder of All Star Marketing Club, to discuss all things social media within your dental practice and how vital a tool it can be to communicate and engage with your patients. What you’ll hear: Key objectives dental practices should aim for with their social media presence Types of content that tend to perform best for dental practices on Facebook and Instagram Common mi...
Dec 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 425
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Area Manager, Katrina James, sits down with Regional Support Manager, Louise Anderson, to discuss the current dental landscape in Wales and navigating the NHS contract changes in Wales heading into 2026. What you’ll hear: Their initial reaction to the changes The biggest impacts on day-to-day working under this new contract How Practice Plan can support you through this time.
Dec 11, 2025•22 min•Ep. 424
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Dental Business Coach, Michael Bentley, chats to Hazel Dockery about the power of a dental treatment coordinator (TCO) and how the role can really benefit a dental practice. What you’ll hear: How Michael started out in dentistry How valuable a TCO can be How practices without a TCO are missing out.
Dec 05, 2025•21 min•Ep. 423
In this episode of the 'In the Loupe' podcast, host Nigel Jones reflects on the recent UK Autumn Budget and the Chancellor’s calls for a CMA investigation. What you’ll hear: How the UK Autumn budget could affect dentistry Recent news around the Chancellor calling for an inquiry by the CMA around private dentistry costs What all this could mean for dentistry in the coming months.
Nov 28, 2025•8 min•Ep. 422
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Principal Dentist and Co-owner at Duston Dental Practice, Andrew Lamb sits down and speaks to us about his journey from NHS dentistry to becoming a private practice. What you’ll hear: How Covid became a massive game changer for the practice 2 years on from converting - how life has changed Advice for anyone who is considering the move to private practice.
Nov 21, 2025•30 min•Ep. 421
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry Podcast, three years post-conversion, Ant Davies, Principal Dentist and Owner of Belvedere Dental Practice and Nook Street Dental, chats to Hazel Dockery about life as a fully private dentist and how he became an ‘accidental’ group owner. What you’ll hear: How he came to the decision to leave the NHS How treatments have changed since going private What life is like in the practice now compared with three years ago when facing closure His plans for the...
Nov 07, 2025•23 min•Ep. 420
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry podcast, Special care Dental Nurse, Lisa Andrews Davies, chats to Hazel Dockery about the online resource ( adhdoralhealth.my.canva.site) she has developed to help dental professionals and parents of children newly diagnosed with ADHD and Autism. What you’ll hear: What motivated Lisa Some advice for parents of children whose appetite is affected by medication Suggested ways to help neurodivergent children care for their oral health....
Oct 31, 2025•23 min•Ep. 419
Nigel Jones is joined by Shaz Memon, Founder of Digimax Dental, a highly rated dental marketing agency. The business leader, designer, award-winning digital and dental marketing expert and author of Instagram for Dentists, talking all things marketing in the dental landscape. What you'll hear: His journey into marketing and eventually specialising in Dentistry Thoughts on the Dental Industry and where marketing (and trust) sits How marketing doesn't make a business successful Insights into the m...
Oct 24, 2025•34 min•Ep. 418
Nigel Jones is joined by Paul Graham, Managing Director of Medical at Christie & Co, to explore the current dental practice market and delve into insights from Christie & Co’s latest annual market review report. What you'll hear: The current practice market landscape The key points that came from the annual marketing review report The current landscape of NHS dentistry Tips for when the time is right to sell your practice....
Oct 14, 2025•26 min•Ep. 416
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry Podcast, Patient Care Coordinator Chloe Anderson chats to Regional Support Manager Donna Hall about her role and how it really benefits the dental practice and patients. What you’ll hear: How the role of a patient care/ treatment coordinator works within the practice Working alongside clinicians within the dental practice Advice for practices considering introducing a patient care coordinator. Where does the role fit in the plan journey for a patient?...
Sep 30, 2025•34 min•Ep. 415
In this episode of The Business of Dentistry Podcast, Donna Hall chats with dental leadership and culture consultant Mark Topley, Chair of the charity Gold for Kids, to explore the organisation's mission and impact. With precious metals discarded every day in dental practices, Gold for Kids is a not for profit organisation which melts down unwanted metals and donates the funds to trusted UK charities helping children facing poverty, hunger, and unstable home lives. What you’ll hear: Story of how...
Sep 19, 2025•18 min•Ep. 414
