Mike owns Dartmoor Dental in Tavistock. The surgery’s NHS contract amounts to 15 per cent of its yearly turnover, yet it “takes up 30 per cent of its time.”
The practice recently registered 350 children in one week. The influx was part of a mandate to its team to carry out NHS work.
Speaking to BBC News, Mike said, "I think our approach is quite unique in the southwest. Whilst we do the most advanced type of dentistry and we cover our costs with private work, we think it's part of our community good to do NHS work as well.
"If we don't do it, these young children will end up in Derriford hospital, there is nowhere else for them to go. They'll overwhelm GP surgeries".
Devon has been called a “dental dessert” and the BBC explained many practices are not taking on new patients.
Following the 2024 election, Mike said he hoped the government would consider reforms to NHS dental contacts to enable more practices to take on patients.
He said, "I'm hoping the new Labour government will increase or change the [NHS] contract, and we'll be able to actually cover our costs seeing NHS patients".