Friday 5th September saw the inaugural NASDAL Scotland Forum take place in Glasgow. It brought together leading figures from across dentistry, law, finance, and business to examine dentistry in Scotland and explore its future direction.
Chair of NASDAL Scotland, Roy Hogg commented, “the forum was a great opportunity for so many interested parties to come together and share knowledge for the benefit of all. We organised the forum under Chatham House rules to ensure attendees felt comfortable participating and I have to say that it was a great success. What emerged was a picture of cautious optimism. While recruitment challenges, compliance pressures, and rural access remain real issues, the mood in the room was clear: Scotland seems to be better placed than any other UK nation to face the future with confidence”.
A New Era for Associates
For the first time in a number of years, many new graduates are now leaving dental school with the ambition to own practices once again. This renewed appetite for ownership—across both NHS and private sectors—marks a significant cultural shift.
“There’s a real buzz around independent ownership again,” said one delegate. “Associates are thinking beyond the treadmill and looking at building businesses.”
First-time buyers are showing strong interest, while second-time buyers are emerging as early-stage multi-practice owners. The practice sales market is buoyant, with transaction levels rising and more entrepreneurial dentists keen to create their own groups.
A consistent theme was the need to better prepare young dentists for ownership. While clinical training is strong, many leave dental school with little or no understanding of running a business.
“The Deans don’t see it as their responsibility,” one attendee noted. “But if we don’t bridge that gap, we’re setting young dentists up to struggle.”
NASDAL was encouraged to explore training opportunities, creating a roadmap that could support graduates who aspire to ownership. Delegates also pointed out that AI tools like ChatGPT cannot replace the human network of accountants, lawyers, and advisers that young dentists need to thrive.
Corporates – Opportunity and Risk
Corporate dentistry remains a “curate’s egg” in Scotland. At the top end, corporates have a role to play. But in other areas, their legacy has been less positive.
Several delegates highlighted the issue of empty corporate-owned practices, where retreating operators have left health boards to pick up the pieces. These sites represent both a challenge and an opportunity—could they be re-opened by independent buyers and restored to thriving practices?
“Corporate dentistry has its place,” said another delegate, “but when they walk away, it’s local communities who suffer.”
Recruitment Pressures Across the Team
Recruitment is not just a dentist problem. Nurses, therapists, and technicians were all highlighted as crucial to the future workforce.
Technicians, in particular, are under pressure, with NHS lab work often losing out to private sector demand. Suggestions included Scottish Government-backed national labs to maintain quality and affordability across the NHS system.
The wider workforce is also shifting in patterns of work. Associates are less willing to commit to five-day weeks, preferring three or four days to support better work-life balance. With a growing female workforce, many of whom will not return full-time after starting families, this trend is expected to continue.
Skill Mix and Therapists
Therapists are expected to play an increasing role in the future skill mix, but challenges remain. Edinburgh has closed its training programme even as the government looks to expand numbers. Direct access is not yet available in Scotland, limiting flexibility.
The economics are also difficult. Many therapists earn more as private hygienists than as NHS therapists, making recruitment and retention in the public sector difficult.
Practice Owners Under Strain
For existing practice owners, the last few years have been exceptionally tough. Covid was a turning point, forcing many to reconsider their careers. Compliance and regulatory pressures continue to push some into early retirement or from NHS into private practice.
Economic pressures also weigh heavily. While Scotland’s SDR system provides some protection, employer NI costs and other financial burdens remain significant. Promised mitigation from Westminster has not always been delivered in full, leaving practice owners to plug the gaps.
Silence – a Sign of Stability?
Interestingly, delegates noted that Scottish dentists seem “quieter” than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK. Fewer complaints, fewer protests, and less noise overall.
“Silence can be golden,” said one contributor. “It might just mean that Scottish dentists are more content than their colleagues elsewhere.”
Certainly, many felt that Scotland currently offers the best system in the UK—for both patients and practitioners.
Looking Ahead – The Crystal Ball
The forum closed with predictions for the coming years. Likely developments include:
- A lively Scottish Election in 2026, with manifesto pledges around free dentistry.
- Retention of the independent contractor model—changing it would be a “disaster.”
- A strong practice sales market, with more churn, mixed practices, and growth of dentist-led groups.
- Corporates returning selectively, while entrepreneurial independents seize more control.
- A continued focus on work-life balance, with earlier retirements and part-time working seen as permanent shifts.
Conclusion
The NASDAL Scotland Forum painted a portrait of a profession in transition but not in crisis. The appetite for ownership is back. The marketplace is buoyant. With the right support—especially around business skills and workforce planning—Scottish dentistry looks set for a period of growth, renewal, and opportunity.