The Business of Dentistry Podcast

In this week’s episode of the business of dentistry podcast host, Hazel Dockery, is joined by Associate Professor Fiona Ellwood, Executive Director of the Society of British Dental Nurses, to discuss her academic research on the subject of ageism in dentistry, with a specific focus on dental nurses.

What you’ll hear:

• What part do dental nurses play in portraying the acceptance of ageism
• How policies can drive inter...

In this week’s episode of the business of dentistry podcast, Donna Hall is joined by Natalie Bradley, consultant in special care dentistry, to discuss the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and its impact on dentistry, particularly for patients with learning disabilities and autism.

What you’ll hear:

• Key challenges patients with learning disabilities or autism face when accessing dental care
• What is involved in the ...

In this week’s episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Les Jones is joined by Adam Smith, Director of Boxly to discuss leads, AI and the balance between sales and patient care.  

What you’ll hear:

• How important is it for dental practices to track enquiries and act on that journey
• Adam’s opinion on the roles of phonebots and chatbots in practice
• Whether software like Boxly help deliver patient...

In this week’s episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Josie Hutchings is joined by Ashley Worskett, founder of Torvit Digital to discuss what really drives growth in dental practices and about how to attract the right patients. 

What you’ll hear:

• What does the right patient actually mean in today’s landscape
• Common mistakes practices make when trying to attract patients
• How a practice can cl...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Louise Anderson is joined by Lauren Harrhy, Principal dentist and owner of Sparkle Dental Centre and deputy chair of the British Dental Association, to discuss NHS dentistry in Wales. Topics covered include the amended contract that came into effect in April and whether now is the time to stick, adapt or exit the NHS.

What you’ll hear:

• How are practices and prac...

In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, Nigel Jones is joined by Jeff Sherer, co-founder and owner of The Dental Design Studio to discuss dental groups, the use of AI in dentistry and the evolution of Dental Design Studio.  

What you’ll hear:

• The vision for Dental Design Studio back in 2005
• How it is a great time to be in dentistry
• The use of AI in dentistry and the evolution of Dental Design Studio
• How importa...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery is joined by Jenna Ellis, a registered dental technologist at GoDigital-Dental to discuss how good communication can improve the relationship between the practice and the laboratory.

What you’ll hear:

• Why is communication so important in the role of dental technicians
• Shade taking is the biggest fall in communication between the practice and the la...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery is joined by Lisa Grogan, Psychologist and Executive Leadership, Life, and Corporate Wellness Coach to discuss the limbic system, the 'Lens Method' and the window of tolerance and looking out for and creating a limbic leader.

What you’ll hear:

• Is the limbic system kindness with another name
• The Lens Method and the window of tolerance
• Would Lens Met...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery is joined by Nicki Rowland, founder of The Magic Dentist children’s oral health charity, to talk about the charity’s work and her hopes for future expansion. How the connection between magic and dentistry came about and how practices can get involved with the Magic.

What you’ll hear:

• What sparked the connection between magic and oral h...

In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, Nigel Jones is joined by Sarah Buxton, HR and Employment Law Solicitor and Director of Buxton Coates, to discuss employment law, future changes and how they might impact dental practices.

What you’ll hear:

• Contract changes that happened earlier this year including statutory sick pay
• Changes to Paternity Leave from 2026
• Introduction of the Fair Work Agency

* Since this po...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery is joined by Regional Support Manager, Donna Hall to discuss the topic of paying associates in private practice.  

What you’ll hear:  

• What are the most common questions currently being asked about paying associates in private practice
• The benefit to the business of having the correct payment structure
• How a change in payment structure mi...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Les Jones is joined by Shiv Pabary, NHS Dentist and Chair of the General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC) at the BDA, to talk NHS dentistry, its future and whether there be a new NHS contract during the current parliamentary term.

What you’ll hear:  

• Are we likely to see NHS contract reform during this parliament?
• Morale within the NHS and why graduate dent...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery, is joined by Regional Support Manager, Donna Hall, to discuss the cost-of-living crisis and the challenges this presents for practices regarding patient retention.

What you’ll hear:

• How things are looking out in the field at the moment
• The importance for practices of showing the value of remaining on plan
• Suggestions as to how handle a patient loo...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Suki Singh, is joined by Iain Stevenson, head of Dental at Wesleyan Financial Services to discuss financial planning structures and common mistakes that can happen during the transition from NHS to private practice. 

What you’ll hear:

• Key implications dentists should be aware of when moving to private dentistry
• NHS pension pitfalls and getting financial adv...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Les Jones is joined by Regional Support Manager, Louise Anderson to discuss the changes to the NHS Welsh dental contract, its impact on practices and any quick wins that might mitigate some of these changes.

What you’ll hear:

• The main changes caused by the contract
• The impact of the new contract on the day to day running of dental practices
• Quick wins from a pr...

In this episode of the In the Loupe podcast, Nigel Jones is joined by Neil Carmichael, chair of the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), to talk about the impact the ADG is having both politically and on the market as a whole as well as its priorities and where Neil thinks the dental market is heading.

What you’ll hear:

• The causes of dental deserts across the UK
• How workforce issues are the source of most of the dental i...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery, is joined by leadership coach and consultant Mark Topley to discuss Gold for Kids. The charity helps secure restorations and unwanted jewellery with the help of dental practices for it to be melted down and the proceeds donated to UK charities helping children.

What you’ll hear:

• The simple process around getting involved with Gold for Kids
• Why a p...

In this episode of the business of dentistry podcast, host, Hazel Dockery, is joined by TCO (treatment care coordinator) mentor and social media marketing expert, Claire Frisby, to talk about the role, how sometimes people are poorly prepared to assume it and the ways she mentors TCOs to integrate seamlessly into the practice.

What you’ll hear:

• The lack of preparation and support offered to some new TCOs
• Ways TCOs can in...