The dental sector has evolved greatly over the past year alone. Consumers have greater expectations and demands around when and where they are treated; the profession has become a lot more focused on providing appointments at times that work around busy schedules and providing facilities for booking these appointments online. Consumers
also have wider access to information and choice about the different dental treatments available, and this is only
going to increase as new procedures are developed.
This has led to more competition across the sector, as patients are willing to shop around and find a dentist that suits their lifestyle and can meet their demands. However, we still find that recommendation from friends and family is one of the main ways that people find a dentist – and this reflects the significance of sourcing a dentist you can trust.
As our consumers become better informed, we have found that they increasingly want services that aren’t available on the NHS. This opens a much wider role for private dentistry by offering patients a wider range of choice.
Naturally, any changes to the NHS will influence private dentistry and therefore close attention should be paid to any new developments. For instance, the NHS’s new Friends and Family Test will provide an interesting comparison
between private and NHS dentistry. Some independent private dentists may even find they need to reconsider how
they demonstrate the value of their services to current and future patients.
Although the pilots are yet to have a strong impact on the private sector, we are all watching with keen interest what will happen to the NHS contract. My view is that dental care is best delivered by multi-disciplinary teams working together for the benefit of the patient. I hope that the value of the whole dental team will continue to be appreciated and that this approach can be used to benefit patients whether they are NHS or private.
Another significant trend across the private sector is the increased influence of the governing bodies and regulators and a drive for higher standards and more consistency in the outcomes patients can expect. Whilst for practice owners this may add complexity and cost to their business, it does establish a baseline for minimum quality standards.
Changes in GDC regulations and guidance around scope of practice also influence the private sector. We have seen a really positive response to direct access for hygienist appointments attracting patients who may not have been to a dentist for a while but who then resume regular attendance.
Finally, we are continuing to see a degree of corporatisation and consolidation of the market and this extends across the whole of dentistry. From NHS practices to the private sector, sellers are increasingly recognising the benefits of working as part of a larger organisation which can take the day to day management effort away, letting clinicians focus on what they enjoy – dentistry.
Overall, I am very positive about the future of private dentistry. I believe there is an increasing demand for dental practices in convenient locations, close to where people work or live, offering affordable, high quality, private dentistry with appointment times to fit around work. However, it’s important that providers demonstrate the value of going down the private route to the consumer and continue to pay close attention to the evolving dental landscape.