I admit, I was a reluctant participant on Dental Forum’s ‘Dragons Den-tal’ panel. Reluctant because conferences are variable in impact, and Spain is a long way to go in a very busy period to only find out that it was ineffective. Fortunately, this was one of the best events that I have ever attended.
Without exception, the presentations and workshops were informative and a great environment in which to share opportunities and challenges, with peers both in DSOs and also suppliers to our industry. Kaival Patel expertly moderated the panel discussion, in which we were able to demonstrate to the industry that the CEOs of the larger DSOs are unanimously focused on supporting patients and business cultures, rather than taking shots at each other. We had a refreshingly candid conversation and what stood out to me was the pace of change. Dentistry is evolving rapidly, driven by new technology, shifting patient expectations, and a system where demand continues to outstrip supply.
Patients increasingly expect more than treatment alone. They expect experience, value, access and consistency. Meeting that challenge starts with building organisations that clinicians want to work in, and that patients trust. At our scale - more than 500 practices, 7,000 colleagues and 3,000 clinicians - one thing is clear and that is culture cannot depend on individuals. You can’t be everywhere. Culture is what people do when no one is looking. It has to be defined, embedded and reinforced every day. In clinical standards, in how decisions are made, and in how we support our people. For us, it starts with a simple purpose: helping the nation smile and making high-quality affordable dentistry accessible to more patients, wherever they are.
The risk at scale is culture becoming a slogan. The antidote is what you actually do: upholding clinical standards that don’t waver, how you handle complaints, how you invest in people’s development.
And what I saw over the two days is that our industry as a whole is trying to do the right things. That is not just the larger groups, but even those entrepreneurs in the early stages of building meaningful organisations. They were the first to ask about how we are able to maintain positive and kind cultures with size, because it mattered to them. Because they care.
Dental Forum was two days of building friendships and recognising that we are in a uniquely caring industry, where value creation starts with looking after our people.
Kaival Patel Dr. Dev Patel BDS PG Dip Matthew Lee Mark Allan
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